Overview

• The Suns and Beal are negotiating a contract buyout that would void his no-trade clause and make him a free agent.
• Phoenix is more than $10 million over the NBA’s second tax apron and aiming to reduce its luxury-tax burden and repeater-tax risk.
• The proposed buyout would allow the Suns to stretch Beal’s remaining two-year, $110 million contract across five seasons to lower their annual cap hit.
• Exploratory trade discussions between Phoenix and the Miami Heat stalled this week, leaving the buyout as the primary path for Beal’s departure.
• The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are expected to pursue Beal in free agency once he becomes available.