It does not take a financial expert to conclude that the Phoenix Suns are in financial upheaval. Considered one of the title contenders at the start of last season, not many would have predicted that a team consisting of Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker would finish nowhere near the playoffs.
A devastating season, which was hindered by consistent injuries to major stars saw the Suns finish 11th in the West. Not even qualifying for the play-in, Mat Ishbia and the rest of the front office have a humongous task at hand. But even as they attempt to regain some semblance of competitiveness for the 2025-25 campaign, obviously more concerning issues persist.
And they come in the form of the $220 million wage bill, which has led to a luxury tax of $184 million, the highest in league history. The Suns’ ‘Big 3’ are all owed around $50 million each, and major changes are necessary for them to regain financial wiggle room. Without it, not only do the Suns have an underperforming, overpaid roster, they also find themselves out of options.
The same is further compounded by Bradley Beal’s situation. The 31-year-old has a no-trade clause in his contract, which ironically gives him job security at a time the Suns want to put him on the market. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro bluntly stated: (via SI)
“They do NOT want him back. But he is untradable, and if he does not agree to a buyout they may be stuck with him”
The same was confirmed by NBA Insider Chris Mannix, who revealed that the Suns have grilled prospective coaches about how they plan to integrate Bradley Beal. This means that, with Devin Booker set to continue as the face of the franchise and Beal untradable, it is KD who is set to make way.
On The Kevin O’Connor Show, Chris Mannix painted a bleak picture:
“Devin Booker cannot win a championship in Phoenix…But Devin Booker is going to be here. And effectively, Bradley Beal is going to be here, because we have no choice.”
Kevin O’Connor added dryly, “They would love to get rid of him,” to which Mannix conceded, “there’s no choice”
Kevin Durant has no dearth of suitors. Even at 36, his offensive production is unmatched. The Suns also want to continue their attempts to build around Devin Booker. And considering they are out of options when it comes to Bradley Beal, the way ahead is as complicated as it is drastic.
The Suns, therefore, may trade Kevin Durant not because they want to. At the same time, they may also keep Bradley Beal, and again, not because they want to.
Phoenix Suns’ financial quicksand is as historic as it is desperate
Beneath the headlines, Phoenix owns the NBA’s most bloated payroll. They owe $220 million in salaries and have a luxury tax hovering around $184 million. That financial burden, combined with Beal’s immovable contract, has a domino effect. The Suns are over both apron levels, hamstrung from adding salary via trade unless it’s matched with immediate relief.
With draft capital nearly depleted through 2030, the front office has few levers left to pull. Enter Kevin Durant. Multiple teams, including Houston, Minnesota and New York have been linked. The frontrunners are considered to be the San Antonio Spurs, and a potential duo of Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama is only a tantalizing prospect.
And so, as controversial as the journey might have been, the way forward involves drastic measures. It’s a brutal calculus: Beal is stuck, Booker is sacrosanct, and the only movable star with trade value is Durant. Send him out, alleviate payroll burden, and perhaps reset, but at the cost of immediate competitiveness.
What is unfolding in Phoenix is not merely a result of questionable front office decisions. It has also led to some historic numbers, and Ishbia and co.’ only exit strategy appears to involve a Kevin Durant trade.
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