Significant update emerges on Bradley Beal’s future

One member of the Phoenix Suns’ Big Three is now gone, and now a second may soon be on his way out as well.

The Suns are now planning to either trade or buy out veteran guard Bradley Beal, Arizona sports reporter John Gambadoro said Sunday during an appearance on “The Kevin O’Connor Show.” Gambadoro further predicted that Beal has played his final game in a Suns uniform.

“Bradley Beal is not going to be on this team,” said Gambadoro. “They will either trade him or they will buy him out … I don’t think there’s any scenario where Bradley Beal comes back and plays for the Suns.”

Beal, still only 31, is a three-time All-Star who used to be a 30-ppg scorer. But Beal has been a disaster ever since the Suns traded for him in 2023. Beal has averaged just 17.6 points per game over his two seasons in Phoenix and has also missed 58 games due to injury over that span. On top of that, Beal has come under fire for his attitude issues with the Suns, and he is extremely overpaid right now, having made more than $50 million this year.

Phoenix will be more than happy to get rid of Beal at this point, but that would be far easier said than done. For one, Beal holds a full no-trade clause and thus cannot be moved without his approval. Additionally, Beal is still owed $53.7 million next season with a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27, so a buyout would be especially complicated too.

Both a trade or a buyout would require Beal’s cooperation with the Suns. If he is unwilling to give it, Phoenix might have to exile Beal from the team until the stalemate ends, thereby creating another messy situation for the Suns right after their one with Kevin Durant was just resolved on Sunday with a blockbuster trade.