Heading into Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bradley Beal adamantly rejected any talk of a potential sweep, defiantly stating, “I’ve never been swept a day in my life, I’ll be dammed if that happens.”
Beal proceeded to score a mere nine points on 4/13 shooting and committed six turnovers in the Suns’ final game of the season, which culminated in their sweep by the Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
Throughout Beal’s presence on the court, Phoenix endured a daunting -12 deficit. Particularly damning was his performance in the 4th quarter, during which he turned the ball over four times before fouling out, significantly contributing to Phoenix’s collapse down the stretch.
Beal had just two points in the 2nd half.
It was the worst performance of his lengthy playoff career, and it came at the worst time possible.
Now confronted with a challenging dilemma, the Suns must grapple with the question of what to do with Beal’s hefty contract.
Looking ahead, Phoenix is obligated to pay the 12-year veteran $50 million next season, followed by $54 million the subsequent season, and a staggering $57 million in 2026-2027.
Approaching his 31st birthday in approximately two months, Beal still commands a remaining $161 million on his current contract with Phoenix. But how can they justify such a significant investment when given a catastrophic performance in a pivotal elimination game?
Beal averaged a little over 18 points per game during the regular season and he missed 29 games due to injury, presenting a nightmare scenario for Phoenix’s management as they strive to fix the ugly situation awaiting them this offseason.
To make matters worse, there was some obvious friction between Beal and head coach Frank Vogel during the Suns’ game 4 loss.
In the 3rd quarter, while heading to the bench with foul trouble, Beal rejected Vogel’s high five in frustration, raising eyebrows among fans.
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