Diving into the numbers brings the probable motivation to light.
Whether you want Bradley Beal bought out by the Phoenix Suns or not, I feel safe in saying that pretty much everyone would like this decided one way or the other quickly. No matter how it’s resolved, a resolution allows everyone to just move along and put this all behind us.
On July 15, Beal’s contract specifies that he will get a 25% advance on his 2025-26 season salary. That equals a lump sum of $13,416,567.50. I said earlier in the comments section of John’s earlier article on this topic that the advance payment would have no effect on the buyout numbers…but I was wrong about that. After giving it some more thought, I realized that it actually does change a few things that work out in favor of both Beal and the Suns.
While that amount being paid to him early normally would have no impact on the Suns’ cap sheet or their luxury tax obligations, waiting until after this payment is made will lower the amount of cash that would have to be stretched after he is bought out. It almost lowers the stretched amount to the point of being below the 15% limit of stretched dead salary that teams are allowed to carry on their cap sheets, just not quite enough to get all the way there.
Once that advance payment is made, stretching the remaining 75% of Beal’s 2025-26 salary plus the full amount for 2026-27 equals yearly stretch payments of $19,475,662.50. Adding in the dead money already owed to Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell brings the total up to $23,289,703.50, which would be 15.06% of the cap, just a tiny bit over the maximum amount allowed…but still over the limit.
But the important thing is that waiting until he gets his advance also means that Beal could be bought out for a sum significantly smaller than the nearly $14 million buyout that has been previously reported, and the Suns could still stretch his remaining salary over 5 years if they wish to do so. That’s the key here.
It’s been reported that the most Beal could now get from any of his preferred teams to sign with them after his buyout would be a contract for around $5.3 million. After receiving the 25% advance, a buyout equal to that $5.3 mil amount would work to bring the total of the Suns’ stretched dead salary down to 14.4% of the cap while also ensuring that Beal doesn’t actually lose any of the money already owed to him.
Mission accomplished and in a way which hopefully allows everyone to part company amicably.
Like it or not, it makes financial sense for both sides to wait a few days longer to complete the buyout.
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