Bradley Beal’s time with the Phoenix Suns appears to be nearing its end as the franchise prepares for a roster overhaul.
On The Kevin O’Connor Show, Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro stated unequivocally that Beal will not return to the Suns next season. “They’re going to trade him or they’ll buy him out,” Gambadoro said, reiterating that there’s “zero percent” chance Beal remains with the team.
Beal, 31, averaged 17.0 points on 49.7% shooting across 53 games this season, his second in Phoenix. Despite a respectable shooting split, he struggled to consistently impact the Suns’ offense as a third option behind Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
The Suns finished 36–46 and missed the postseason, prompting front office decisions focused on retooling the roster. Yesterday, Phoenix traded Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round selections.
Following that blockbuster, Beal’s departure is widely viewed as the next logical move.
Complicating matters is Beal’s no-trade clause, which allows him to veto any deal. Additionally, he is owed over $100 million through the next two seasons, with a $57.1 million player option in 2026–27.
Given his contract and limited market value, Phoenix may opt for a trade centered on matching salary, then waiving the returning players to free up cap space. Gambadoro suggested such a scenario could be in play if the Suns cannot find a contending team willing to take on Beal’s full contract.
“They’ll look to trade him or they’ll buy him out. And if they trade him, maybe they trade him for another player that they can buy out,” he said.
Beal joined the Suns in June 2023 from Washington in a deal that sent Chris Paul and multiple second-round picks to the Wizards. At the time, Phoenix expected Beal to form a dominant scoring trio with Booker and Durant.
But the combination never translated to postseason success. Injuries and inconsistency plagued the lineup, and the team lacked depth throughout the year.
Now, with Durant gone and Beal likely to follow, the Suns are pivoting toward a younger roster built around Booker and Green. Phoenix also holds multiple first- and second-round picks, giving the front office flexibility heading into a pivotal offseason.
