“Still a disaster in Phoenix.” That’s how ESPN’s Zach Lowe just put it, summing up the biggest, most frustrating mess in the entire NBA. Two years ago, the Phoenix Suns went all out, trading for Beal to create a “Big Three” with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. It was supposed to be a dream team that would win a championship. Instead, it’s turned into a huge financial nightmare. After a terrible 36-46 season where KD got sent to Houston and the team completely missed the playoffs, the Suns have been stuck with Beal, his massive $110 million contract, and a no-trade clause that means he holds all the power. It seemed like there was no easy way out. But maybe not anymore.

On Saturday, Gerald Bourguet, a trusted insider covering the Suns, shared some huge news on X. According to his sources, a buyout for Bradley Beal now looks like it’s “imminent.” And he shared the surprising detail that makes it all possible. “I’m anticipating he gives up $13.9M of his remaining $110.8M,” Bourguet wrote, “which would then clear the way for the Suns to waive-and-stretch the resulting $96.9M over 5 years and duck both tax aprons.”

This is a really big deal. For weeks, money experts like Fred Katz of The Athletic have been explaining why a simple “waive and stretch” couldn’t happen for the Suns. It was because of a tricky rule in the CBA and some old money they still owed from waiving Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell. The only way a buyout could ever work was if Beal agreed to give up about $14 million of his own money—something most people who know the league, even Lowe, thought would never, ever happen.

The reason everyone was so skeptical was simple: players with fully guaranteed, nine-figure contracts and a no-trade clause almost never give money back. It’s the ultimate power move, something Beal and his agent totally earned. Plus, Beal’s family is reportedly happy and settled in Phoenix after moving from D.C. to L.A. and then to the Valley. Like Fred Katz of The Athletic reported, Beal didn’t want to “pull his kids out of school, moving them again, or leave his family altogether.” So, with his financial power and his family happy where they were, a buyout just seemed totally out of the question.

But now, it looks like the impossible is actually becoming real. If Beal agrees to give up that $13.9 million, the Suns can take the remaining $96.9 million and spread it out over the next five years. That means his cap hit drops from a crippling $53.7 million next season to a much more manageable $19.4 million in dead money. It’s a move that would let the Suns get under that dreaded second apron, giving them the financial breathing room they need to keep rebuilding around Devin Booker.

And if you’re thinking this hurts the Suns’ chances to win in the future, think again. The next year or two were always going to be about rebuilding anyway. This move lets them do that without being completely stuck financially. By the time they’re ready to be a real contender again, Beal’s dead money will be less than 10% of the salary cap, leaving them with plenty of space to build a winning team. It’s a smart, forward-thinking way to fix a huge problem. And it looks like Beal is ready for his next big adventure.

The Bradley Beal sweepstakes and the dawn of a new era in Phoenix

According to a new report from veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, Beal is already making plans for his next step. “Bradley Beal is actively exploring his options with other teams in anticipation of a Suns buyout, league sources tell @TheSteinLine,” Stein reported. “There will be considerable interest in Beal once he becomes an unrestricted free agent.” The mess in Phoenix is almost done, and the race to sign Bradley Beal is about to kick off.

Now that Bradley Beal is officially available, the competition to get him is expected to be fierce. According to a report from Evan Sidery, at least five teams are expected to show “strong interest” in the veteran guard: the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets. It’s basically a list of all the top NBA contenders, and they’re all looking to add a proven, efficient scorer who could be the missing piece for their championship run. For Beal, it’s a chance to finally land in a winning situation, something he’s been chasing his whole career.

And while everyone else is focused on where Beal will end up, the Phoenix Suns are officially turning the page. This week, they welcomed the new players they got in the Kevin Durant trade: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea. The team even posted a heartfelt “thank you” to Kevin Durant on their social media, a quiet, graceful end to a partnership that had high hopes but ultimately didn’t work out. Durant, for his part, also posted a message of gratitude.

Changes are happening at the very top, too. The coaching staff has seen a huge shake-up. After a disappointing season, head coach Mike Budenholzer was fired. His replacement, Jordan Ott, was hired after a search that, according to reports, heavily involved the team’s main star, Devin Booker. Plus, the Suns are now reportedly one of two teams, along with the New York Knicks, aggressively trying to get former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for a top assistant spot.

But the biggest sign of their new direction came with a huge financial commitment to their one remaining superstar. According to a report from Duane Rankin, the Suns have agreed to a two-year, $150 million contract extension with Devin Booker. This deal makes Booker one of the highest-paid players in the league based on how much he earns per year, and it makes him the undisputed main player for the franchise for a long, long time. It’s a powerful statement from the Suns’ front office. After the disastrous “Big Three” experiment, they are putting all their chips on their homegrown star, building a new team, a new culture, all around him.

Now, as the Suns’ front office works on getting their new players settled, the very last piece of the old era is about to be wrapped up. According to sources, the buyout part of the Beal deal is already done. All that’s left is for him to pick his next team. The disaster in Phoenix is finally over. And for one lucky contender, the Bradley Beal era is just about to begin.