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Suns draft pick Khaman Maluach: ‘Sometimes I let the emotions out’<\/p>\n
Khaman Maluach was emotional after being selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n
NBA content network<\/p>\n
The Phoenix Suns<\/a> have been discussing a possible buyout for guard Bradley Beal, league sources have informed The Arizona Republic.<\/p>\n Beal has two years left on his contract totaling $110 million. A buyout would make Beal a free agent. Teams can officially begin signing players to contracts July 6.<\/p>\n The three-time All-Star guard is on a five-year deal for $251 million, which includes a no-trade clause, that he signed with the Washington Wizards<\/a>.<\/p>\n He\u2019d no longer have a no-trade clause with a buyout because the contract would be voided.<\/p>\n The Suns have a policy of declining to comment on the contracts of players. Suns general manager Brian Gregory passed on addressing a question about Kevin Durant\u2019s future with the team during Jordan Ott\u2019s introductory news conference as head coach last month.<\/p>\n Phoenix later traded Durant before the 2025 NBA Draft to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal, acquiring Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round selections.<\/p>\n The trade will become official July 6.<\/p>\n Phoenix has a salary cap hit of $3.8 million, consisting of Nassir Little\u2019s $3.1 million and E.J. Liddell\u2019s $706,898. The maximum amount that can count against the cap is $23.2 million.<\/p>\n The Suns could reduce Beal’s salary and stretch it over five years. Phoenix would have a cap hit per year as it looks to work its way under at least the second tax apron.<\/p>\n The Suns are a little more than $10 million over the second apron.<\/p>\n For example, the Suns could negotiate a buyout for Beal of, say, $90 million and stretch it over five years. Phoenix would have an $18 million cap hit per year.<\/p>\n The lesser the buyout, the more wiggle room the Suns would have with the dead cap space.<\/p>\n Beal would be able to go to any team. The team wouldn’t have to pay him the remaining $20 million in that scenario, but Beal wouldn\u2019t want to lose any money on a buyout.<\/p>\n A player typically wants to have a team lined up to land to ensure that the team pays the remaining amount after being bought out.<\/p>\n Beal averaged 17.6 points on 50.5% shooting, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his two seasons with the Suns. Shooting 40.7% from 3, Beal can still put up numbers, but he has struggled to stay healthy. Beal played only 53 games in each of the two seasons in Phoenix.<\/p>\n He hasn\u2019t played at least 60 games since the 2020-21 season, which was a 72-game season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Playing 60 games that season, Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points, made his third All-Star appearance and received All-NBA third team honors.<\/p>\n The Suns landed Beal in a trade during the 2023 offseason that sent Chris Paul to the Wizards. Paul wound up starting the 2023-24 season with Golden State.<\/p>\n The trade created a Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Beal, giving the Suns the belief they could win an NBA championship. Phoenix fell way short of those expectations.<\/p>\n Phoenix went 45-33 in games Booker, Durant and Beal played together, going 19-18 this past season.<\/p>\n Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Support local journalism: Subscribe to\u00a0azcentral.com<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n