The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

So we're basically.........................
29.9 million over the LT tax apron.
- 23 million over the 1st apron.
- 11 million over the 2nd apron.

This with not KD or Beal on our roster (soon), But only having one star /superstar in Booker. A couple of starting rotation players, some young athletic very intruiging talent, and a few vet min options possibly??

But will also have to take back equitable salary in any Allen/ O'neale trade ( unless we fan somehow aggregate them together for a large 27 million expiring contract- Collins would've been perfect, but oh well)!

- We'll still have to resign Richards with a slight increase, possibly around 8-10 million?
- We'll still have to extend Williams for at least 15-20 million or so but hopefully could get him on a reduced value of 14-16 million due to injury/ durability considerations.
- we'll still have Booker's and others scale increases to add in the next three years too.

I'm just not seeing how eating $22.8 million over the next 5 years and adding those salary increase scenarios, roster spots to fill too, etc is likely to leave us more in a more competitive situation with only a singular star player for defenses to focus in on.

Very likely still being over the 2nd apron during those years, as a fringe play in team, and not having control of our own picks and only having limited trade assets in our remaining swapped out picks and our young core talent as tradable assets with value before Booker's salary explodes to over 70+ million in 28, 29, and 30.

Can some of the many much smarter minds than I help me understand how a waive stretch Beal scenario is actually more beneficial to is now (over the next two seasons) as opposed to just letting him expire in 27 and then having upwards of 60+ million to be major players in a very loaded 27 free agency.

A free agency that could completely reload/ significantly upgrade our roster competitively without 5 yrs of paying (22 million in dead cap)for a player to help other teams beat us, and who won't even be on our team anyways?? What am I missing here in this strategy?

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

[handsome salary]

Ishibia has no patience. Its gonna keep ruining this team.

[KdoubleDees23]

Ishibia has no patience. Its gonna keep ruining this team.

So as GM what would you do? What would your plan be?

[ChuckS]

Read on Twitter

So we're basically.........................
29.9 million over the LT tax apron.
- 23 million over the 1st apron.
- 11 million over the 2nd apron.

This with not KD or Beal on our roster (soon), But only having one star /superstar in Booker. A couple of starting rotation players, some young athletic very intruiging talent, and a few vet min options possibly??

But will also have to take back equitable salary in any Allen/ O'neale trade ( unless we fan somehow aggregate them together for a large 27 million expiring contract- Collins would've been perfect, but oh well)!

- We'll still have to resign Richards with a slight increase, possibly around 8-10 million?
- We'll still have to extend Williams for at least 15-20 million or so but hopefully could get him on a reduced value of 14-16 million due to injury/ durability considerations.
- we'll still have Booker's and others scale increases to add in the next three years too.

I'm just not seeing how eating $22.8 million over the next 5 years and adding those salary increase scenarios, roster spots to fill too, etc is likely to leave us more in a more competitive situation with only a singular star player for defenses to focus in on.

Very likely still being over the 2nd apron during those years, as a fringe play in team, and not having control of our own picks and only having limited trade assets in our remaining swapped out picks and our young core talent as tradable assets with value before Booker's salary explodes to over 70+ million in 28, 29, and 30.

Can some of the many much smarter minds than I help me understand how a waive stretch Beal scenario is actually more beneficial to is now (over the next two seasons) as opposed to just letting him expire in 27 and then having upwards of 60+ million to be major players in a very loaded 27 free agency.

A free agency that could completely reload/ significantly upgrade our roster competitively without 5 yrs of paying (22 million in dead cap)for a player to help other teams beat us, and who won't even be on our team anyways?? What am I missing here in this strategy?

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

I will not speak to the Beal options since both sides make sense to me. I would prefer to keep him because he is a good player and it troubles me to see a probably already better competitor get him for so little. On the other hand, I am notoriously frugal, and would save multi-millions were it my money. I also think it offers greater financial flexibility much earlier, albeit with future dead cap consequence.

I just do not see anything they have done thus far as stupid. I believe we had five good players and fifteen fair to poor others on the roster last year. We lost our best player, but it ultimately resulted in an overall improvement of the overall roster, by also losing eight other players for the better. We now have 4 capable starters (Book, Green, Brooks, and Williams--although I still would prefer a real point guard). With three new starters and the draftees, and other additions, our bench should be much better. Having said that, I think our starters will be less competitive absent KD. I am less confident about replacing a generational talent, still in the current top ten, and an all star, with a second round pick or Dunn. So it remains to be seen if our power forward position is no longer a weakness. Our size problem otherwise should be improved with the addition of Williams. He is an improvement talent-wise, and with the uncertainty of even good seeming rookies and health concerns, Richards is not redundant yet, and in today's climate will still have value if he ever becomes so.

I applaud keeping Booker, but regret the likelihood of having to lose two more of last year's best, Royce and Grayson, if necessary to get below the second apron. But I think these initial steps have shortened what I thought would be the rebuild period.

[KdoubleDees23]

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

I will not speak to the Beal options since both sides make sense to me. I would prefer to keep him because he is a good player and it troubles me to see a probably already better competitor get him for so little. On the other hand, I am notoriously frugal, and would save multi-millions were it my money. I also think it offers greater financial flexibility much earlier, albeit with future dead cap consequence.

I just do not see anything they have done thus far as stupid. I believe we had five good players and fifteen fair to poor others on the roster last year. We lost our best player, but it ultimately resulted in an overall improvement of the overall roster, by also losing eight other players for the better. We now have 4 capable starters (Book, Green, Brooks, and Williams--although I still would prefer a real point guard). With three new starters and the draftees, and other additions, our bench should be much better. Having said that, I think our starters will be less competitive absent KD. I am less confident about replacing a generational talent, still in the current top ten, and an all star, with a second round pick or Dunn. So it remains to be seen if our power forward position is no longer a weakness. Our size problem otherwise should be improved with the addition of Williams. He is an improvement talent-wise, and with the uncertainty of even good seeming rookies and health concerns, Richards is not redundant yet, and in today's climate will still have value if he ever becomes so.

I applaud keeping Booker, but regret the likelihood of having to lose two more of last year's best, Royce and Grayson, if necessary to get below the second apron. But I think these initial steps have shortened what I thought would be the rebuild period.

If we can get rid of Beal while adding Westrbook, CP3 , or Brogdon! I would call that a win.

[Bogyo]

Ishibia has no patience. Its gonna keep ruining this team.

So as GM what would you do? What would your plan be?

As much as I like him, and dislike the other 2 I would have traded Book to the Spurs for #2, #14, Vassel, Schohan, Barnes and keep Beal and KD (barf). Tell KD to show up to camp - or not sabotage the return from the Rockets. That way the team remains competitive, while getting younger, and getting tradeable pieces, having some expirings, and keeping options open.
If KD stays - Harper/Vassel/Barnes/KD/Williams - Gillespie/Beal/Dunn/Schohan/Sorber is a good foundation, and KD and Barnes expire end of year. Then Beal expires one year later.
If KD goes but doesnt have the power to blackmail us, we get back Jabari instead of Brooks, maybe Whitmore plus one more of our pick(s) back - as it should have been withouth the nastiness that snake has pulled on us. Then you can still try to trade Green or Vassel for a player and a pick or whatever else.
Worst case: KD stays and sits out - but that would have diminished his already tarnished reputation further, and he couldn't have added to his individual stats, so I dont think he would have done that - and not like we would have gutted the Rockets with the above trade, as they have added DFS and Capella to their frontline, and just traded Whitmore for (only) 2 seconds. Just a fair return instead of the pupuplatter.
All of the above would have been better going forward than staying in purgatory for another 5 years. All of the above teams would have been a lot more competitive than whatever we will see next year. The bad salary would have been gone in 1-2 years. Would have been filled with young(ish) players and some picks back. Oh well

[King4Day]

Read on Twitter

So we're basically.........................
29.9 million over the LT tax apron.
- 23 million over the 1st apron.
- 11 million over the 2nd apron.

This with not KD or Beal on our roster (soon), But only having one star /superstar in Booker. A couple of starting rotation players, some young athletic very intruiging talent, and a few vet min options possibly??

But will also have to take back equitable salary in any Allen/ O'neale trade ( unless we fan somehow aggregate them together for a large 27 million expiring contract- Collins would've been perfect, but oh well)!

- We'll still have to resign Richards with a slight increase, possibly around 8-10 million?
- We'll still have to extend Williams for at least 15-20 million or so but hopefully could get him on a reduced value of 14-16 million due to injury/ durability considerations.
- we'll still have Booker's and others scale increases to add in the next three years too.

I'm just not seeing how eating $22.8 million over the next 5 years and adding those salary increase scenarios, roster spots to fill too, etc is likely to leave us more in a more competitive situation with only a singular star player for defenses to focus in on.

Very likely still being over the 2nd apron during those years, as a fringe play in team, and not having control of our own picks and only having limited trade assets in our remaining swapped out picks and our young core talent as tradable assets with value before Booker's salary explodes to over 70+ million in 28, 29, and 30.

Can some of the many much smarter minds than I help me understand how a waive stretch Beal scenario is actually more beneficial to is now (over the next two seasons) as opposed to just letting him expire in 27 and then having upwards of 60+ million to be major players in a very loaded 27 free agency.

A free agency that could completely reload/ significantly upgrade our roster competitively without 5 yrs of paying (22 million in dead cap)for a player to help other teams beat us, and who won't even be on our team anyways?? What am I missing here in this strategy?

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

Waiving Richards would have been asset management malpractice.
Whether we want to believe it or not, since the team has no intent to tank, stretching Beal gives the team the best chance to move pieces around more freely while adding (hopefully) younger, cheaper, parts
We need to see what the team does after waiving Beal. I don't believe Richards starts the season with us.

[bigfoot]

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

I will not speak to the Beal options since both sides make sense to me. I would prefer to keep him because he is a good player and it troubles me to see a probably already better competitor get him for so little. On the other hand, I am notoriously frugal, and would save multi-millions were it my money. I also think it offers greater financial flexibility much earlier, albeit with future dead cap consequence.

I just do not see anything they have done thus far as stupid. I believe we had five good players and fifteen fair to poor others on the roster last year. We lost our best player, but it ultimately resulted in an overall improvement of the overall roster, by also losing eight other players for the better. We now have 4 capable starters (Book, Green, Brooks, and Williams--although I still would prefer a real point guard). With three new starters and the draftees, and other additions, our bench should be much better. Having said that, I think our starters will be less competitive absent KD. I am less confident about replacing a generational talent, still in the current top ten, and an all star, with a second round pick or Dunn. So it remains to be seen if our power forward position is no longer a weakness. Our size problem otherwise should be improved with the addition of Williams. He is an improvement talent-wise, and with the uncertainty of even good seeming rookies and health concerns, Richards is not redundant yet, and in today's climate will still have value if he ever becomes so.

I applaud keeping Booker, but regret the likelihood of having to lose two more of last year's best, Royce and Grayson, if necessary to get below the second apron. But I think these initial steps have shortened what I thought would be the rebuild period.

I don't think moving Grayson and Royce are needed to get under second apron, right?
Buyout Beal, pay him $42 million this year and whatever next year. No stretch needed.

That puts the Suns under the second apron and allows them to aggregate salary. Players like Green, Williams, Richards, Grayson, Brooks, and O'Neale are now easier to move. Why move them then? Only to reduce luxury tax bill or improve the roster. The Suns would need to get under the lux tax to eliminate repeater tax penalties. Is the primary goal to get under 2nd apron or get under lux tax. I guess we will know Ishbia's mind as the season progresses.

If the Suns compete then I can see him staying in lux tax land. If the Suns flail, moving good players for picks and expiring contracts seems to be likely. Contrary to many posters "the Suns front office doesn't have a plan" actually looks like a reasonable plan.

[BobbieL]

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

I will not speak to the Beal options since both sides make sense to me. I would prefer to keep him because he is a good player and it troubles me to see a probably already better competitor get him for so little. On the other hand, I am notoriously frugal, and would save multi-millions were it my money. I also think it offers greater financial flexibility much earlier, albeit with future dead cap consequence.

I just do not see anything they have done thus far as stupid. I believe we had five good players and fifteen fair to poor others on the roster last year. We lost our best player, but it ultimately resulted in an overall improvement of the overall roster, by also losing eight other players for the better. We now have 4 capable starters (Book, Green, Brooks, and Williams--although I still would prefer a real point guard). With three new starters and the draftees, and other additions, our bench should be much better. Having said that, I think our starters will be less competitive absent KD. I am less confident about replacing a generational talent, still in the current top ten, and an all star, with a second round pick or Dunn. So it remains to be seen if our power forward position is no longer a weakness. Our size problem otherwise should be improved with the addition of Williams. He is an improvement talent-wise, and with the uncertainty of even good seeming rookies and health concerns, Richards is not redundant yet, and in today's climate will still have value if he ever becomes so.

I applaud keeping Booker, but regret the likelihood of having to lose two more of last year's best, Royce and Grayson, if necessary to get below the second apron. But I think these initial steps have shortened what I thought would be the rebuild period.

I don't think moving Grayson and Royce are needed to get under second apron, right?
Buyout Beal, pay him $42 million this year and whatever next year. No stretch needed.

That puts the Suns under the second apron and allows them to aggregate salary. Players like Green, Williams, Richards, Grayson, Brooks, and O'Neale are now easier to move. Why move them then? Only to reduce luxury tax bill or improve the roster. The Suns would need to get under the lux tax to eliminate repeater tax penalties. Is the primary goal to get under 2nd apron or get under lux tax. I guess we will know Ishbia's mind as the season progresses.

If the Suns compete then I can see him staying in lux tax land. If the Suns flail, moving good players for picks and expiring contracts seems to be likely. Contrary to many posters "the Suns front office doesn't have a plan" actually looks like a reasonable plan.

They are relying on Bradley Beal being willing to take the buyout. You suggest $42m. That would be a paycut of 20%.
There were options in place where they would not have had to rely on negotiations with Beal to accept a buyout

[bigfoot]

I will not speak to the Beal options since both sides make sense to me. I would prefer to keep him because he is a good player and it troubles me to see a probably already better competitor get him for so little. On the other hand, I am notoriously frugal, and would save multi-millions were it my money. I also think it offers greater financial flexibility much earlier, albeit with future dead cap consequence.

I just do not see anything they have done thus far as stupid. I believe we had five good players and fifteen fair to poor others on the roster last year. We lost our best player, but it ultimately resulted in an overall improvement of the overall roster, by also losing eight other players for the better. We now have 4 capable starters (Book, Green, Brooks, and Williams--although I still would prefer a real point guard). With three new starters and the draftees, and other additions, our bench should be much better. Having said that, I think our starters will be less competitive absent KD. I am less confident about replacing a generational talent, still in the current top ten, and an all star, with a second round pick or Dunn. So it remains to be seen if our power forward position is no longer a weakness. Our size problem otherwise should be improved with the addition of Williams. He is an improvement talent-wise, and with the uncertainty of even good seeming rookies and health concerns, Richards is not redundant yet, and in today's climate will still have value if he ever becomes so.

I applaud keeping Booker, but regret the likelihood of having to lose two more of last year's best, Royce and Grayson, if necessary to get below the second apron. But I think these initial steps have shortened what I thought would be the rebuild period.

I don't think moving Grayson and Royce are needed to get under second apron, right?
Buyout Beal, pay him $42 million this year and whatever next year. No stretch needed.

That puts the Suns under the second apron and allows them to aggregate salary. Players like Green, Williams, Richards, Grayson, Brooks, and O'Neale are now easier to move. Why move them then? Only to reduce luxury tax bill or improve the roster. The Suns would need to get under the lux tax to eliminate repeater tax penalties. Is the primary goal to get under 2nd apron or get under lux tax. I guess we will know Ishbia's mind as the season progresses.

If the Suns compete then I can see him staying in lux tax land. If the Suns flail, moving good players for picks and expiring contracts seems to be likely. Contrary to many posters "the Suns front office doesn't have a plan" actually looks like a reasonable plan.

They are relying on Bradley Beal being willing to take the buyout. You suggest $42m. That would be a paycut of 20%.
There were options in place where they would not have had to rely on negotiations with Beal to accept a buyout

Except he would go play for another team and recoup a good portion of the 20%. Instead he is choosing to be paid fully not to play basketball at all if he does not accept the buyout. So if he is wiliingl to say my career is over he should not accept the buyout.

Really the Suns did the right thing because Beal most certainly wants to play the game he loves and play on a winning team. Obtaining and keeping players like Williams, Richards, O'Neale, and Allen should absolutely bring back draft capital when and if they are traded. Beal would never bring back draft capital.

[PhxLax]

Gambo talks out of his a&$, states the absolute obvious outcomes aka Capt Obvious and just guesstimates everything. He should at least give us the courtesy to turn around so we can hear him. And once again he was wrong about Beal being off the team in “24-48 hours”. Dude NEVER admits when he’s is obviously wrong.

Flex is even worse. Gambo to certain degree, but mostly Flex, anytime they're wrong they have the fall back convenient option of, "Well, things change and these things are fluid" aka I have no idea what I'm talking about because I'm a fake reporter with no sources and just say things to see what sticks and can fall back on "things change" argument if nothing sticks.

Again, more so Flex and less Gambo but both are guilty.

[TeamTragic]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1lwkd99/charania_the_phoenix_suns_are_hiring_orlando/

The Phoenix Suns are hiring Orlando Magic assistant Jesse Mermuys as a top assistant coach on Jordan Ott's staff, sources tell ESPN. Critical hire for Ott to lure a lead assistant from a well-respected Magic staff.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/0015a31452a54

[BobbieL]

Exactly we should just suck it up the next two years and wait to have Beal's money fully off the books and then hopefully we can sign some quality free agents on the free agent market in a couple years.

We buyout and stretch Beal we will have Beal's 20M eating away at cap space for the next half decade heavily restricting free agent signings and added to that is Booker's insane super max extension eating away at the cap as well.

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

Waiving Richards would have been asset management malpractice.
Whether we want to believe it or not, since the team has no intent to tank, stretching Beal gives the team the best chance to move pieces around more freely while adding (hopefully) younger, cheaper, parts
We need to see what the team does after waiving Beal. I don't believe Richards starts the season with us.

But trading 2 FRPs for a player in Williams who has an injury history is good use of assets - especially when you drafted a Center

My point again is - they could have made decisions that didn't rely on Bradley Beal taking a buyout. Now he can basically tell them to turn it sideways and they are in a pretty tough spot. Ishbia blew his was -- two FRPs picks for Williams; a bunch of SRPs to get Fleming.

Beal drives the negotiation because Ishbia gave him the keys.

[Puff]

It is apparent that Bradley Beal is in charge of this entire situation. So, he is holding up whatever plans that the front office has in mind to improve this roster while saving a lot of money and giving our franchise true flexibility for the present. Ishbia has said, via Gambo, that he will go over the apron again but that they have to reset it now or they lose virtually all flexibility for the foreseeable future.

Why not dump a combination of Royce, Allen or Richards? I do not think that they are wanted by other teams due to their contracts. I also do not think that even if we can dump them that we can get the flexibility we get with a Beal Waive and stretch.

If we do keep Beal CP3 will not be coming our way. I am sure that he will want more than the minimum and will want his number 3 on his jersey as part of the package.

Who would you rather have for the next 2 years CP3 or Beal? This whole issue is as much about that than anything else. If CP3 can come in and become virtually a player coach for the new young players that we have acquired who is a better fit? I expect most would love to have CP3 back with our team. He is not going to sign here as long as Beal is on the roster. How valuable do you think CP3 could be for our youngsters?

If we do keep Beal, how does he fit in the rotation. I really think that is the biggest issue. If Ott thinks he can make the threesome of Beal, Booker and Green work then we should keep Beal. Otherwise let's just move on. That is if Beal will allow it.

Beal still holds all the cards, or is it his wife?

[Saberestar]

Shams:

The Phoenix Suns are hiring Orlando Magic assistant Jesse Mermuys as a top assistant coach on Jordan Ott's staff, sources tell ESPN. Critical hire for Ott to lure a lead assistant from a well-respected Magic staff.

[Saberestar]

Gambo:

Hearing that former NBA veteran Mateen Cleaves will be joining the Suns with a role on the player development staff. Expecting his focus will be on leadership, motivation and overall player development.

[KdoubleDees23]

It is actually too late for an actual plan. When they decided to trade for Williams and than stupidly, doubled down by bringing back Richards, they really have no choice other than to hopefully waive/stretch Beal.

Granted, if they had not picked up the options on Micic, Martin, Richards combined with not trading for Williams. They could have had the 2nd round picks to possibly help faciliate an Allen or O'Neale trade that might got them under the second apron. At which point, you can offer Beal say $100m over two years - and save a bit more cash. But instead - Dipshitbia did none of this.

I mean, he had 22m of contracts that were sitting there to not be picked up. So they traded Nurkic to create cap space but than went against it. Ishbia is too inconsistent, up and down to create a winning team. One day do something but the next day do something.

Waiving Richards would have been asset management malpractice.
Whether we want to believe it or not, since the team has no intent to tank, stretching Beal gives the team the best chance to move pieces around more freely while adding (hopefully) younger, cheaper, parts
We need to see what the team does after waiving Beal. I don't believe Richards starts the season with us.

But trading 2 FRPs for a player in Williams who has an injury history is good use of assets - especially when you drafted a Center

My point again is - they could have made decisions that didn't rely on Bradley Beal taking a buyout. Now he can basically tell them to turn it sideways and they are in a pretty tough spot. Ishbia blew his was -- two FRPs picks for Williams; a bunch of SRPs to get Fleming.

Beal drives the negotiation because Ishbia gave him the keys.

Late FRPs for Williams is a great deal, especially with the Suns history of drafting. If Mark Williams stays healthy he is a great asset long term for the Suns.

Williams is a walking double double and has longer standing reach than Wemby!

Having 2 good Centers isn't a bad thing especially for big men. Williams, Maluach, and Richards can all play 20 minutes a night! We will have depth and that is great.

[bigfoot]

It is apparent that Bradley Beal is in charge of this entire situation. So, he is holding up whatever plans that the front office has in mind to improve this roster while saving a lot of money and giving our franchise true flexibility for the present. Ishbia has said, via Gambo, that he will go over the apron again but that they have to reset it now or they lose virtually all flexibility for the foreseeable future.

Why not dump a combination of Royce, Allen or Richards? I do not think that they are wanted by other teams due to their contracts. I also do not think that even if we can dump them that we can get the flexibility we get with a Beal Waive and stretch.

If we do keep Beal CP3 will not be coming our way. I am sure that he will want more than the minimum and will want his number 3 on his jersey as part of the package.

Who would you rather have for the next 2 years CP3 or Beal? This whole issue is as much about that than anything else. If CP3 can come in and become virtually a player coach for the new young players that we have acquired who is a better fit? I expect most would love to have CP3 back with our team. He is not going to sign here as long as Beal is on the roster. How valuable do you think CP3 could be for our youngsters?

If we do keep Beal, how does he fit in the rotation. I really think that is the biggest issue. If Ott thinks he can make the threesome of Beal, Booker and Green work then we should keep Beal. Otherwise let's just move on. That is if Beal will allow it.

Beal still holds all the cards, or is it his wife?

I really don't think Beal holds or is in charge of anything. The Suns have told him we don't want you and you are not playing for us anymore. He will be paid to stay home. Alternatively, Suns have probably offered him a $42m buyout of his contract this year plus some equivalent next year. Suns have drawn the line in the sand and Beal can take it or leave it. It could happen today or it could happen in-season. Doesn't really matter because Beal isn't playing for the Suns anymore in either situation.

So, I don't see how this impacts the team makeup or roster improvement. The Suns roster is set at 14 including Beal. They have an open spot and could sign Paul outright for a vet min if they wanted to. If Beal takes a buyout another spot opens. I would think the Suns want flexibility and would not want to fill the 15th spot right away and save it for trades and such. The Suns have run with 14 on the roster through half the season several times. The two-way players pick up the slack.

If the Suns really want CP3 they should just hire him as a player development coach right now. It would be a far, far better option. I just don't see the Suns bringing back a player they dumped two years ago so it's likely a pipe dream.

[Fo-Real]

There has to be something going on or wrong with this Beal buyout. Its not like the numbers can change between he and the Suns. If he were keen on doing it, waiting to do it makes no sense since nothing can change on our end. What is the hold up? Has something changed? Is he deciding not to give up anything? Is there some kind of a deal out there that is being pondered?

[bigfoot]

There has to be something going on or wrong with this Beal buyout. Its not like the numbers can change between he and the Suns. If he were keen on doing it, waiting to do it makes no sense since nothing can change on our end. What is the hold up? Has something changed? Is he deciding not to give up anything? Is there some kind of a deal out there that is being pondered?

He is searching for a team that will give him the biggest MLE he can find. That team needs to be in a location he likes and also have a shot at a chip. Obviously the Clips make sense but they only have $5M to offer and the Suns certainly aren't waiving him unless they can get under the 2nd apron. So Beal has to swallow a $12M-5M loss ... About $7M. My guess is Beal and his agent botched up the early buyout offer and didn't take it when full MLEs were on the board. Too bad for Bradley.

Edit: Also, Suns can waive/stretch him until August 31. So that is likely a hard deadline. Maybe we have another 45 days of this nonsense.