Suns’ Bradley Beal Decision Predicted to Be Among NBA Offseason’s Worst

They also bought out Bradley Beal’s contract and will now have $19.4 million in dead money over the next five seasons after waiving and stretching his contract.

Analyst predicts Suns' Bradley Beal decision will be among worst of NBA offseason

While this move did allow them to get under the second apron, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently predicted that it will be one of the worst moves of the NBA offseason.

“Getting out of the second apron is a big deal for the Suns—and not just because it saves team governor Mat Ishbia some serious scratch. It helps ensure their 2032 pick is eventually unfrozen and won't be moved to the end of the first round. But if you view setting $19.4 million on fire for five consecutive years as the only way to elude the second apron, something's off,” Favale wrote. “It's one thing if Phoenix did this to pave the way for another bi g move. It didn't. Devin Booker's extension doesn't count.”

Favale did not hold back on the Suns’ decision to buy out Beal’s contract, especially since they failed to make another big move afterwards outside of Booker’s contract extension.

He also compared the move to the one the Milwaukee Bucks made with Damian Lillard as they also waived and stretched his contract after buying him out but they used the extra cap space to sign Myles Turner.

Instead of the Suns doing the same as the Bucks by buying out Beal, they instead elected to not make any moves while the star guard will now have a chance to win a championship next season with the Los Angeles Clippers while the Suns will likely find themselves fighting for a Play-In spot.

For the Suns, it may have been a better option for them to hold on to Beal for next season despite his struggles over the past few years instead of paying him for the next five seasons, especially as they enter a mini-rebuild in Phoenix after breaking up their star trio.