Phoenix Suns insider breaks down Bradley Beal contract buyout
The Suns bought out guard Bradley Beal’s contract, ending his time in Phoenix. The Republic’s Duane Rankin explains what it means for the team.
‘The Phoenix Suns are ranked last in ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings projected over the next three seasons through 2027-28 after being ranked 19th the previous year.
“It was only three years ago when Phoenix ranked third in the FPR and had a solid foundation of young players and future draft assets,” wrote Bobby Marks. “That foundation no longer exists, thanks largely to the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal trades. Both players are no longer on the roster, and though Phoenix isn’t in financial purgatory and still has All-Star Devin Booker, its path back to relevancy is unclear.”
ESPN’s Toim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton and Marks rated all 30 NBA teams in five categories and ranked them relative to the rest of the league.
“The Suns have no tradable firsts in the next seven years and have $23 million in dead money on their books in the next five years,” Marks continued. “One positive is that Phoenix has shifted away from building around multiple high-priced veterans to trading for former first-round picks Jalen Green, Mark Williams and selecting Khaman Maluach in June’s draft.”
ESPN ranked Phoenix’s players 26th, money (financial situation) 22nd, draft 30th, market sixth and management 28th.
Defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder is first in ESPN’s future power rankings for a second straight year, followed by the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns traded Durant to the Rockets before the 2025 draft for Dillon Brooks, Green and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, who wound up being Maluach.
They later bought out Bradley Beal, who later signed with the Clippers this summer.
Phoenix opens the 2025-26 season Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.