While some around the league view Bradley Beal’s contract as “toxic,” it may not be completely untradable if the Phoenix Suns are willing to take back another team’s bad contract.
Heading into the NBA games today the Suns will be watching from home and making plans for the summer after seeing their season come to an end last week. There was so much hope for them this season due to having a three-headed scoring monster with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. However, the front office’s grand plans on paper were shredded as the year played out.
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They did a poor job of putting the right pieces around their big three and Beal was a major letdown after posting numbers below his All-Star norms, and he only suited up in 53 games. There have been rumors either of the three could be moved this season. Booker would have the most value but Beal is the player the Suns would love to ship off.
Unfortunately, he has two years and a player option worth as much as $160 million left on his contract. While they may not like what they get in return, one league executive told FOX Sports NBA insider Ric Bucher this week that “Beal is toxic debt now [but] you have to move on before Book and KD demand trades and you lose leverage in the marketplace.”
- Bradley Beal stats (2023-24): 18.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 43% 3PT
With that in mind, let’s look at three risky bad contract swaps the Phoenix Suns could make to get out from under Bradley Beal’s contract and improve their cap space long-term.
3 players the Phoenix Suns could target in a bad contract swap for Bradley Beal
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls
The Suns have enough scoring with Durant and Booker. They need a good floor general to get their stars the ball where they want and play strong defense on opposing guards. That is why Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball could be an option. He missed the last two seasons due to a knee injury, but all signs point to him returning in 2024-25 and he recently picked up his player option.
The Bulls would love to move on from this deal, and Beal could be a solid backup plan if they lose DeMar DeRozan in free agency. The move is risky for both but at least Beal could play like an All-Star next season while it’s unclear if Ball will even play at all. But if he doesn’t Phoenix still slashes $30 million from their books and his deal expires after the season.
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Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
Speaking of an always-injured point guard, Ben Simmons has been a disaster for the Brooklyn Nets the last two seasons. While he has played more than Ball, it hasn’t been by much and his numbers haven’t been good. While the Nets already have Cam Thomas and Beal on the roster, if they move the former in a deal to address the frontcourt then Beal would make sense.
Furthermore, moving on from Simmons would perk up Brooklyn’s ears. For the Suns, if he can play he is the ball handler, rebounder, and defensive player they could use. But if he can’t suit up he is still only signed for 2024-25.
Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors
Andrew Wiggins has seemingly regressed to the player he was before helping the Warriors win a championship two years ago. His name has been in trade rumors for weeks and he is likely to be moved this summer. While he is signed for three more years, it is at a far lower price than Beal, and that is why Kevon Looney would have to be thrown into the deal.
The Suns get a nice defensive player they can slot between Durant and Booker to guard the opposing team’s best wingmen. The big question is if Golden State would take Beal. If they lose Klay Thompson in free agency they may consider it, but it’s still a longshot.
