Suns Off Season Changes for 2025-26

[Mainstreet]

I understand that, I'm talking about what the Player's Association will allow. In the past, they've stepped in when a player on a big contract agrees to take less money. Small fries they ignore but Beal's contract, no way will they allow it unless something has changed (rules-wise) to force them to allow it.

You may well be right. There are 560 pages, plus exhibits, in the NBA CBA.

 

[95pro]

I understand that, I'm talking about what the Player's Association will allow. In the past, they've stepped in when a player on a big contract agrees to take less money. Small fries they ignore but Beal's contract, no way will they allow it unless something has changed (rules-wise) to force them to allow it.

Still have no clue on what you’re talking about with this. Last large salary I can remember is Ben Simmons, no issues buying him out.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Still have no clue on what you’re talking about with this. Last large salary I can remember is Ben Simmons, no issues buying him out.

Yeah maybe I don't really know what I'm talking about either. I know it happened (the PA stepping in and stopping a buyout/restructure), several times but I can't swear the basic facts were the same in each case. But it was a hot button at one time for the Players Association.

 

[GatorAZ]

Beal has always been an injury plagued empty stat guy. Not sure why the Suns thought they were getting something different.

At the time we were all extremely low on CP3. He was injured/ineffective once again to end a postseason so it seemed like we were stealing production. I can’t remember if the apron stuff was known at the time and what a hindrance it’d be.

I don’t see a single advantage of stretching Beal. We’re contending so who cares if he’s rotting away on this roster for two more years.

 

[AzStevenCal]

At the time we were all extremely low on CP3. He was injured/ineffective once again to end a postseason so it seemed like we were stealing production. I can’t remember if the apron stuff was known at the time and what a hindrance it’d be.

I don’t see a single advantage of stretching Beal. We’re contending so who cares if he’s rotting away on this roster for two more years.

That's how I feel although I'm assuming you meant to say "we're NOT contending".

 

[GatorAZ]

That's how I feel although I'm assuming you meant to say "we're NOT contending".

Correct. Far from contending.

He might be movable as an expiring but given the apron stuff we’re still taking back 90% of his salary.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't care if he agrees to a buyout, I don't think the Suns should waive and stretch Beal. Suck it up for two years instead of suffering for five years. It would be insane to carry $20M of dead weight for the next five seasons.

 

[Folster]

Lol!

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[Hoop Head]

I don't care if he agrees to a buyout, I don't think the Suns should waive and stretch Beal. Suck it up for two years instead of suffering for five years. It would be insane to carry $20M of dead weight for the next five seasons.

All of those years with dead money we'll be picking at the end of the 1st round as well. I believe the dead money will hurt more than the late round picks. It locks us into a terrible situation where we're essentially conceding entirely. Beal's stretched cap figure would be higher than everyone not named Devin Booker's salary.

 

[95pro]

Hang onto him, by the trade deadline his expiring corpse will be worth more.

 

[taz02]

Why would Beal take less money? It doesn't make sense to take 97 over five vs 110 over two.

Even if he signs for the MLE somewhere else he is still eating 3-4 mil. + millions in interest by delaying 70+ mil in payments.

If we stretch Beal we'll have almost 50% of our salary cap tied up in Booker and dead money for five years.

 

[Mainstreet]

When are we going to meet Jordan Ott?

Tom Izzo weighs in on the Ott hiring and Mat Ishbia. See linked article below:


By Duane Rankin Arizona Republic, Updated June 6th, 2025:

Izzo isn’t shy about saying Ishbia loves what the Spartans have accomplished and how they’ve done it, but the Hall of Fame coach isn’t going to let that criticism of Ishbia slide.

“He and I talked a lot the last two years, even this past year,” Izzo said. “Owners learn. Coaches learn. GMs learn. I will say this. He didn’t buy the team as a toy like some of these owners do. He’s just got to figure out what it takes to win and I think he’s figured out some of the things he’s done, positively and negatively. He’s got to get some stability. He’s got to figure out his roster and I think you’re going to see Mat more and more visible.”

'It's not Michigan State Southwest': Tom Izzo defends Suns owner hiring Jordan Ott

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has a strong bond with Phoenix Suns team owner Mat Ishbia.

www.azcentral.com

 

[Yuma]

I understand that, I'm talking about what the Player's Association will allow. In the past, they've stepped in when a player on a big contract agrees to take less money. Small fries they ignore but Beal's contract, no way will they allow it unless something has changed (rules-wise) to force them to allow it.

The players union has allowed guys to be bought and and stretched when they actually don't lose money as outlined in the Beal scenario. Especially if the player wants to move on to a new team. They jump in when a team is trying to screw a player. If it's a mutual move, they aren't going to force a guy to stay on a team he wants to leave.

 

[Yuma]

Why would Beal take less money? It doesn't make sense to take 97 over five vs 110 over two.

Even if he signs for the MLE somewhere else he is still eating 3-4 mil. + millions in interest by delaying 70+ mil in payments.

If we stretch Beal we'll have almost 50% of our salary cap tied up in Booker and dead money for five years.

Remember, there's a formula for MLE. Beal's MLE is higher than other guy's. There's been Bobby Marks, Gerald Bourget, etc, videos where they break this down. Just Youtube search for them.

 

[Yuma]

All this complication with the buy out and stretch goes away even if we let him play even a half season for us because the math get's easier. At 110 million we go above the 15% rule. We get less than that, by waiting and praying more of his salary, we wouldn't even have to have him take less. We could just plain waive and stretch him. It's just simple math.

The problem is the dead money wouldn't let us do that with anyone else and it would literally eat a roster spot of money. That's why I keep saying the longer we let him play, the better. It's like we are on a mortgage and have paid off the interest on the loan, and are now burning through the principal. Might as well be patient and pay down as much as possible before selling.

 

[Yuma]

I don't care if he agrees to a buyout, I don't think the Suns should waive and stretch Beal. Suck it up for two years instead of suffering for five years. It would be insane to carry $20M of dead weight for the next five seasons.

This! 100%

 

[Mainstreet]

The Non-tax payer MLE for 2025-26 is $14,105,000 per Spotrac, while the Taxpayer MLE is around $5,685,000 and the Room MLE is about $8,782,000.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/exceptions/

 

[Yuma]

The Non-tax payer MLE for 2025-26 is $14,105,000 per Spotrac, while the Taxpayer MLE is around $5,685,000 and the Room MLE is about $8,782,000.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/exceptions/

The $14 million number is what I have seen for Beal in the videos and articles on the subject.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

if we keep or stretch beal we're going to definitely suck harder for the next two years - he simply eats too much of the budget - but booker better watch how ish treats players he doesn't want around anymore because it could be him some day

ish is desperate right now - for respect - but respect will only come with success - moving beal in a way that doesn't hurt the team for years is the most important task at hand - the kd auction will basically handle itself - there will be suitors take the best offer boom

but how can ish force beal out without being a ish-hole? and without it hurting the team?

 

[Mainstreet]

The $14 million number is what I have seen for Beal in the videos and articles on the subject.

Of course, Beal would have to go to a team that could pay him the non-tax payer MLE of $14,105,000 which might not be a contender.

 

[Yuma]

Of course, Beal would have to go to a team that could pay him the non-tax payer MLE of $14,105,000 which might not be a contender.

The actual rumor I see the most is him going back to DC since his family likes it there. They wouldn't care about his no trade with two years left and only paying him $14 million per year. The suck is we'd probably have to give up our first round pick this year to do it. DC isn't helping us for free.

That's why I have been saying, we might as well be patient at this point. I'd rather have the draft pick. If we did get DC to take Beal, even giving up a pick, that would make us able to do a bigger trade with KD since we would be under the second apron at that point.

 

[Mainstreet]

if we keep or stretch beal we're going to definitely suck harder for the next two years - he simply eats too much of the budget - but booker better watch how ish treats players he doesn't want around anymore because it could be him some day

ish is desperate right now - for respect - but respect will only come with success - moving beal in a way that doesn't hurt the team for years is the most important task at hand - the kd auction will basically handle itself - there will be suitors take the best offer boom

but how can ish force beal out without being a ish-hole? and without it hurting the team?

If the Suns can't trade Beal, they should try to negotiate a buyout and stretch unless they think Jordan Ott can work with him.

Ott is supposed to be an innovative offensive coach.

 

[Mainstreet]

The actual rumor I see the most is him going back to DC since his family likes it there. They wouldn't care about his no trade with two years left and only paying him $14 million per year. The suck is we'd probably have to give up our first round pick this year to do it. DC isn't helping us for free.

That's why I have been saying, we might as well be patient at this point. I'd rather have the draft pick. If we did get DC to take Beal, even giving up a pick, that would make us able to do a bigger trade with KD since we would be under the second apron at that point.

If Beal agrees to a buyout, the NTC doesn't matter anymore because it wouldn't be a trade.

 

[Carolinacacti]

This is why the Suns should trade Book. Beal and Book did not work, your stuck with Beal And they both play the same position

 

[Yuma]

If Beal agrees to a buyout, the NTC doesn't matter anymore because it wouldn't be a trade.

Beal would still have that clause in his remaining two years. But at that low of a price, if he was injured, or played poorly, DC wouldn't be hampered by it.