The Suns and Devin Booker are discussing a contract extension, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who notes (via Twitter) that the star guard will soon be eligible to add two years and $150MM onto his current deal.
Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst both reported last month that Phoenix was likely to offer Booker a maximum-salary extension once he’s eligible on July 6 and the 28-year-old was expected to accept it, so Haynes’ report doesn’t come as a surprise.
Here are few more notes and rumors out of Phoenix:
- Doug Haller of The Athletic spoke to a handful of Jalen Green‘s former coaches to get a better idea of how he and Booker will be able to coexist in the Suns’ backcourt. Green, a former No. 2 overall pick, will be sent to Phoenix from Houston as part of the Kevin Durant trade. “First off, they’re really good guys,” former Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said of Green and Booker. “They’re both selfless. They both want to win. They both have seen the goods and the bads and have a really good feel for team basketball and what it takes to help you get over the top and win. It remains to be seen, but I think when you start with the base that those two guys have, it could work.”
- Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro has predicted that Phoenix will either trade or buyout Bradley Beal, who still has two years left on his maximum-salary contract, which features a full no-trade clause. While Beal would be open to certain trade scenarios, his preference is to stay with the Suns, as he doesn’t want to uproot his family or move away from them, a source close to the three-time All-Star tells Fred Katz of The Athletic.
- Katz also takes a look at why using the waive-and-stretch provision on Beal isn’t possible unless he gives up at least $13.8MM in a buyout and spoke to some NBA executives about what type of contract the veteran shooting guard might be able to get if he were a free agent (in the range of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception).
- Nigel Hayes-Davis‘ contract with Fenerbahce included a €1 million NBA buyout clause, notes Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. The NBA’s “excluded international player payment amount” for 2025/26 is $875K, which means the Suns could pay up to that portion of Hayes-Davis’ buyout — the rest would come out of his NBA salary, unless Fenerbahce agrees to lower the amount of the buyout. The veteran forward agreed to a guaranteed one-year deal with Phoenix on Monday.
Luke Adams contributed to this article.
Suns will buy out Beal nobody wants that bad contract and nobody has bad contracts like that to trade without draft picks attached.
The Bucks did it with Lillard and it was slightly more money. Poor Beal going to have to move lol
Dame was out for essentially all of next year though. Beal is at least healthy….ish lol. But yea unless they hold him until next year I don’t see them getting out from that contract without a waive & stretch it appears.
Big difference is that Beal cannot be waived and stretched without his collaboration it seems…
For waive and stretch, the salary needs to stay below 15% of this season’s cap: $23.2MM.
So they need him to pick up his player option first, if that’s already possible?
Yea he would need to accept the player option, but that would be the only thing needed if they do the same 5 year stretch as MIL. PHX is wanting some money back because Beal would be able to catch on somewhere for a decent amount this year. But if PHX just wants him gone there is an option.
Just trade Booker and call it a day.
You are never winning anything with him as the guy.
Green and Booker are god sends for each other. Green is a lock to be the MIP and make a legit push for the All NBA team after being let out of jail in Houston.
Mark my words.
Jalen Green is offensive only player. Is defensive is well below the league standard. To suggest he becomes the most improved player next season, is giving him too much credit. He needs to add defense to his game to be even remotely considered most improved player.
It’s really laughable to say Houston was jail to him. Houston gave him many many chances to be a super star. He is not consistent and when the pressure is on him, he chokes. The playoffs this season stated such when he shot less than 25 percent from the arch. Scored last that 12 points in each game he played in that series. Green played his way out of Houston and couldn’t capitalize with the talent around him. It’s not going to be any different with Booker either
Booker to be paid 75 million a year? That would be insane, he is a borderline all-star at best and he seems to play disgruntled since they lost the Finals and Monty left. Well, this is Phoenix and Ishbia, it will be no surprise if he gets paid that ridiculous amount of money
If he gets the max, that franchise is toast as long as he’s on the team. Instantly the worst contract in the league.
After all how many players deserve that amount of money? I can name 3 (SGA,Jokic,Giannis). Tatum if you are generous. Not even Curry (because of his age, not about quality). Doncic? no, close to that but no super max. Maybe Wembanyama when time comes since its not eligible in the coming years same with Ant
I understand this Beal wants his money; the Suns don’t want him on the roster. If Beal wants to play basketball, then he will either give the Suns a list of teams he would agree to be traded to. I think the Suns would take an expiring contract back, and if he refuses the trade, the Suns can just tell him go home collect your monthly check and don’t come to the arena, that will tell him they don’t have a spot on the roster for him. Then the question is does Beal want to play in the NBA this season. If he doesn’t then go home and collect your money, plain and simple. Phoenix has to get rid of him and move on.