The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[Rebound Mound]

Today is going to be a great day for Beal.
It might also be a good day for the Sun's franchise.

[King4Day]

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/7/13/24466983/bradley-beal-buyout-suns-contract-stretch-dead-money-cap-space-2025-advance-salary
Interesting read

So let me get this straight
Beal is owed:
2025/2026 - -53,666,270

2026//2027 - 57, 128, 610
Total: 110,794, 880

If Beal gets 25% of the upcoming season salary, that would be $13.416 - that reduces what Beal is owed down to $40,249703 this year and the$57m plus next year

As the article states that would be $97.4m stretched or $19.475 - which is too high
But if you take off 5.3m for the TPE - that would get the Suns in line

Under this scenario, Beal will end up getting well over $105m of the $110m owed to hin

If that is the case - Ishbia is really pretty damn terrible at this. Beal will have only given up 5.3m and other owners will see Ishbia for what he is
A stooge. Again, if this is how it plays out.

So this year, the cap number would the $13.4+19.4 or almost 33-- plus if he uses the TPE - another $5.3m - so thats over 38
Beal was only getting 53m

How is paying out $38m this year instead of $53m -- while adding three years of dead money that great of a deal? I hope this article is not accurate but I have a feeling it will be.

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

[BobbieL]

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/7/13/24466983/bradley-beal-buyout-suns-contract-stretch-dead-money-cap-space-2025-advance-salary
Interesting read

So let me get this straight
Beal is owed:
2025/2026 - -53,666,270

2026//2027 - 57, 128, 610
Total: 110,794, 880

If Beal gets 25% of the upcoming season salary, that would be $13.416 - that reduces what Beal is owed down to $40,249703 this year and the$57m plus next year

As the article states that would be $97.4m stretched or $19.475 - which is too high
But if you take off 5.3m for the TPE - that would get the Suns in line

Under this scenario, Beal will end up getting well over $105m of the $110m owed to hin

If that is the case - Ishbia is really pretty damn terrible at this. Beal will have only given up 5.3m and other owners will see Ishbia for what he is
A stooge. Again, if this is how it plays out.

So this year, the cap number would the $13.4+19.4 or almost 33-- plus if he uses the TPE - another $5.3m - so thats over 38
Beal was only getting 53m

How is paying out $38m this year instead of $53m -- while adding three years of dead money that great of a deal? I hope this article is not accurate but I have a feeling it will be.

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

I hope it is how you undestand it and now the math I worked up

[King4Day]

So let me get this straight
Beal is owed:
2025/2026 - -53,666,270

2026//2027 - 57, 128, 610
Total: 110,794, 880

If Beal gets 25% of the upcoming season salary, that would be $13.416 - that reduces what Beal is owed down to $40,249703 this year and the$57m plus next year

As the article states that would be $97.4m stretched or $19.475 - which is too high
But if you take off 5.3m for the TPE - that would get the Suns in line

Under this scenario, Beal will end up getting well over $105m of the $110m owed to hin

If that is the case - Ishbia is really pretty damn terrible at this. Beal will have only given up 5.3m and other owners will see Ishbia for what he is
A stooge. Again, if this is how it plays out.

So this year, the cap number would the $13.4+19.4 or almost 33-- plus if he uses the TPE - another $5.3m - so thats over 38
Beal was only getting 53m

How is paying out $38m this year instead of $53m -- while adding three years of dead money that great of a deal? I hope this article is not accurate but I have a feeling it will be.

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

I hope it is how you undestand it and now the math I worked up

The main concern I would have is, why wouldn't they have just agreed to the early payout? If you can push back picking up options, why can't you do something similar with this?

If the issue isn't this, I really believe the Suns are battling with him over how much he takes/loses in a buyout. In which case, this will probably go on until camp is about to begin

[Dr Manute]

July 15th - Beal's still on the team. We can't trade him, we can't even cut him. Our team is handcuffed financially with his salary. You can't count on him playing with any regularity. When he does play he's not a winner and not good for the new culture your trying to create for your young players. Wow what a mess! -Thank you Bartelsteins.

[bigfoot]

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

I hope it is how you undestand it and now the math I worked up

The main concern I would have is, why wouldn't they have just agreed to the early payout? If you can push back picking up options, why can't you do something similar with this?

If the issue isn't this, I really believe the Suns are battling with him over how much he takes/loses in a buyout. In which case, this will probably go on until camp is about to begin

August 30th is the deadline to stretch a player for this season meaning the Suns lose the 5-year stretch option on Sept 1. They would have an impossible time getting under the lux tax and out of repeater tax without stretching him this season. Trades would be difficult too as they are above apron territory. Somebody cries uncle by Aug 30, either Beal or Suns.

Why the Suns cry uncle - Getting under the lux tax saves them one of the largest tax bills in the league since they are in repeater penalty. Trades become easier.

Why Beal cries uncle - Refusing to deal by Aug 30th and causing the Suns to pay a huge tax bill almost certainly means the Suns don't waive him and punish him by making him stay home. He doesn't get to play basketball for the next two seasons. The only way out that predicament is trading Beal which would almost certainly require waiving his no trade clause.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Is there a reason that I'm missing why (if we're considering Westbrook as a PG option) that we're not considering Oladipo on a vet minimum contract?? Especially if he's recovering and still very solid defensively.

Is he not a good ballhandler and/or playmaker or something?? We should give him a shot honestly.

[Waylay13]

Read on Twitter

Is there a reason that I'm missing why (if we're considering Westbrook as a PG option) that we're not considering Oladipo on a vet minimum contract?? Especially if he's recovering and still very solid defensively.

Is he not a good ballhandler and/or playmaker or something?? We should give him a shot honestly.

Almost all of his time has been spent playing shooting guard. While he is a on the small size at 6'3" isnt a good option at point.

[dremill24]

Read on Twitter

Is there a reason that I'm missing why (if we're considering Westbrook as a PG option) that we're not considering Oladipo on a vet minimum contract?? Especially if he's recovering and still very solid defensively.

Is he not a good ballhandler and/or playmaker or something?? We should give him a shot honestly.

I'd say what you're missing is that he hasnt been a good NBA player in 7(!) years. Seems quite unlikely that he would magically get it back.

And if you're comparing him to Westbrook, Russ is better than him at basically everything, especially the playmaking you mentioned (this coming from someone who really dislikes Westbrook).

[TeamTragic]

Any updates on Beal?

[KdoubleDees23]

Any updates on Beal?

Yeah, here is an update: he is a waste of space and worst trade in suns history.

[TeamTragic]

Any updates on Beal?

Yeah, here is an update: he is a waste of space and worst trade in suns history.

I said update not facts.

[BobbieL]

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

I hope it is how you undestand it and now the math I worked up

The main concern I would have is, why wouldn't they have just agreed to the early payout? If you can push back picking up options, why can't you do something similar with this?

If the issue isn't this, I really believe the Suns are battling with him over how much he takes/loses in a buyout. In which case, this will probably go on until camp is about to begin

Beal has zero incentive to give away any more money than he needs too. If he is misses out on the TPMLE - he can still get the vet minimum. So thats a difference I think of 2.5m. But for the Suns, it is probably pretty important for Ishbia to save money, the lux tax.

Hence, for this reason - its why I think Ish put the cart before the horse as Beal controls what happens. Can't combine players yet in trades. Still have the huge lux tax bill. Post Durant trade - -Ishbia had the draft picks to possibly move Allen or O'Neale combined with using other mechanisms to get below the second apron.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Is there a reason that I'm missing why (if we're considering Westbrook as a PG option) that we're not considering Oladipo on a vet minimum contract?? Especially if he's recovering and still very solid defensively.

Is he not a good ballhandler and/or playmaker or something?? We should give him a shot honestly.

I'd say what you're missing is that he hasnt been a good NBA player in 7(!) years. Seems quite unlikely that he would magically get it back.

And if you're comparing him to Westbrook, Russ is better than him at basically everything, especially the playmaking you mentioned (this coming from someone who really dislikes Westbrook).

I'm talking about him from the perspective of a guard with size, defensive playmaking abilities and athleticism. And yes was curious about his playmaking abilities, because it's not like he'd have to be spectacular or anything to stand out on our current roster really.

Also the comparison to Westbrook (a player whom I like for his intensity. motor and statistical stat stuffing capabilities) was based upon that athletic archetype with some relative size. And again, the defensive playmaking prowess possibly being important so that Booker and Green could focus more on scoring.

Any playmaking potential would be a bonus to the previous positional attributes, as I'm not expecting much beyond that for the vet minimum.

Thanks for your input by the way man.

[sunsbum]

Read on Twitter

Is there a reason that I'm missing why (if we're considering Westbrook as a PG option) that we're not considering Oladipo on a vet minimum contract?? Especially if he's recovering and still very solid defensively.

Is he not a good ballhandler and/or playmaker or something?? We should give him a shot honestly.

I'd say what you're missing is that he hasnt been a good NBA player in 7(!) years. Seems quite unlikely that he would magically get it back.

And if you're comparing him to Westbrook, Russ is better than him at basically everything, especially the playmaking you mentioned (this coming from someone who really dislikes Westbrook).

I'm talking about him from the perspective of a guard with size, defensive playmaking abilities and athleticism. And yes was curious about his playmaking abilities, because it's not like he'd have to be spectacular or anything to stand out on our current roster really.

Also the comparison to Westbrook (a player whom I like for his intensity. motor and statistical stat stuffing capabilities) was based upon that athletic archetype with some relative size. And again, the defensive playmaking prowess possibly being important so that Booker and Green could focus more on scoring.

Any playmaking potential would be a bonus to the previous positional attributes, as I'm not expecting much beyond that for the vet minimum.

Thanks for your input by the way man.

come on gok, this is purely because of name recognition. We don’t need another SG

[lilfishi22]

I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works.
He gets 25% of the first year up front.

So 13+mil would be paid now, and the other 7mil by years end. Could be wrong but that's how I understand it

I hope it is how you undestand it and now the math I worked up

The main concern I would have is, why wouldn't they have just agreed to the early payout? If you can push back picking up options, why can't you do something similar with this?

If the issue isn't this, I really believe the Suns are battling with him over how much he takes/loses in a buyout. In which case, this will probably go on until camp is about to begin

In order to do the early buyout, Beal would essentially have to give up $14m-ish from the $110.8m owed to get down to $97m which is what it needs to be in order to be stretched and for the dead salary to fall within the 15% rule. By waiting until he got his 25% payment, he gets paid out the $13m upfront and so the amount owed would be around $97.4m so the required give back in salary is less than a $1m as opposed to $14m-ish.

It's literally Beal having his cake and eating it too. He still gets bought out eventually but he gives up far less than had he been bought out early.

Once that advance payment is made, stretching the remaining 75% of Beal’s 2025-26 salary plus the full amount for 2026-27 equals yearly stretch payments of $19,475,662.50. Adding in the dead money already owed to Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell brings the total up to $23,289,703.50, which would be 15.06% of the cap, just a tiny bit over the maximum amount allowed...but still over the limit.

But the important thing is that waiting until he gets his advance also means that Beal could be bought out for a sum significantly smaller than the nearly $14 million buyout that has been previously reported, and the Suns could still stretch his remaining salary over 5 years if they wish to do so. That’s the key here.

From a timing perspective, it's in his best interest to wait until now. For us, if we could've bought him out early, that would've been good for us. Right now, the only other looming deadline is 30 Aug which is when we have to decide to buyout/stretch.

[lilfishi22]

I'd say what you're missing is that he hasnt been a good NBA player in 7(!) years. Seems quite unlikely that he would magically get it back.

And if you're comparing him to Westbrook, Russ is better than him at basically everything, especially the playmaking you mentioned (this coming from someone who really dislikes Westbrook).

I'm talking about him from the perspective of a guard with size, defensive playmaking abilities and athleticism. And yes was curious about his playmaking abilities, because it's not like he'd have to be spectacular or anything to stand out on our current roster really.

Also the comparison to Westbrook (a player whom I like for his intensity. motor and statistical stat stuffing capabilities) was based upon that athletic archetype with some relative size. And again, the defensive playmaking prowess possibly being important so that Booker and Green could focus more on scoring.

Any playmaking potential would be a bonus to the previous positional attributes, as I'm not expecting much beyond that for the vet minimum.

Thanks for your input by the way man.

come on gok, this is purely because of name recognition. We don’t need another SG

With how money tight we are (salary wise), I just don't see the point of taking a flyer on a guy who hasn't had a healthy season in like 7yrs. We also have another pretty injury prone guy at the C position already and one guy is more than enough for most teams

[Sunsdeuce]

Hypothetical question:

How would each of you rebuild this team knowing in advance the following:
1) for the next 5 years 45-50% of your salary cap is used up on Booker and a bought out Beal

2) next 7 years just three couple late round draft picks and a couple 2nd rounders

3) 1 out of the 3 draft picks from this class actually work out. Obviously way way way to early to predict if this draft class pans out

I’m really interested how you all would approach this. Personally this is uncharted waters for me as a Suns fan. I’ve never seen this team so depleted of assets and maxed out on Salary all at the same time. I mean James Jones with Sarver wasted all our assets but there was still cap space. Now we have no cap space or assets.

Going to take some creativity and uncomfortable decisions that need to be made.

[Sunsdeuce]

Nope, don’t want him back. Nice guy. Hustle guy but isn’t really good at anything.

Rod Boone: #Hornets have waived Josh Okogie, league sources told The Observer. His $7.7 million salary for next season would have been guaranteed today after sides agreed to push back original date. – via Twitter rodboone

[garrick]

Hypothetical question:

How would each of you rebuild this team knowing in advance the following:
1) for the next 5 years 45-50% of your salary cap is used up on Booker and a bought out Beal

2) next 7 years just three couple late round draft picks and a couple 2nd rounders

3) 1 out of the 3 draft picks from this class actually work out. Obviously way way way to early to predict if this draft class pans out

I’m really interested how you all would approach this. Personally this is uncharted waters for me as a Suns fan. I’ve never seen this team so depleted of assets and maxed out on Salary all at the same time. I mean James Jones with Sarver wasted all our assets but there was still cap space. Now we have no cap space or assets.

Going to take some creativity and uncomfortable decisions that need to be made.

Realistically we are not going to have a lottery pick until 2032 so we have to try to acquire as many 2nd round picks and hope that some of them work out kind of like how Miami drafted solid players from the unsigned and 2nd round.

We no longer have any assets that will bring back a lottery selection unless we trade Booker so it's going to be a very painful few years until we are good again and it's unrealistic to think even half of our draft selections will pan out...