W ith the Phoenix Suns losing Tyus Jones in free agency and about to waive and stretch Bradley Beal, they are looking to add a former Sixth Man and Rookie of the Year to their backcourt.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Suns are one of the eight teams that have expressed interest in veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon.
“League sources say that the Wizards are open to sign-and-trade discussions to facilitate Brogdon’s exit and a slew of teams have registered varying levels of interest in the 32-year-old. That list includes the Clippers, Suns and Lakers as well as the Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings and Bucks,” Fischer wrote.
GettyWill Malcom Brogdon become Devin Booker’s new backcourt partner in Phoenix?
Brogdon is coming off his second-lowest scoring season in his career. A left ankle sprain sidelined him for the final 28 games after only playing a career-low 24 games.
The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 12.7 points while shooting a career-worst 28.6% from the three-point line, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game for the tanking Wizards.
Injuries have derailed his once-promising career. He has not played over 70 games since his rookie season. Since the Boston Celtics shipped him to Portland in 2023, Brogdon has only played in 63 games across the last two seasons.
When healthy, Brogdon provides a steady hand and tough perimeter defense with his 6 feet 10.5 inches wingspan–something that the Suns are looking for in their revamped roster building philosophy.
Bradley Beal’s List of Preferred Teams Leaked
Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a three-point shot over Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns.
Beal is considering four teams as his next destination once he and the Suns agree to a buyout, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.
“According to a league source, the list of teams Beal has thought about includes the LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks,” Katz wrote.
The Suns and Beal are in serious discussions about buying out the remaining $110.8 million over the next two years on the three-time All-Star’s contract.
There is an increasing optimism that the two sides will agree to terms on a buyout, according to Katz, citing league sources. Katz added that Beal has to give back at least $13.8 million to allow the Suns to waive and stretch him.
Beal, 32, will be a bargain for a team that will sign him as an unrestricted free agent. The veteran guard still averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 50/39/80 shooting splits last season for the Suns despite his clunky fit next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
But the Suns will also benefit from a Beal buyout. If Beal agrees to it, the Suns will not only get out of the roster-building crippling second apron but also out of the luxury tax altogether.
The Suns though will have to take a dead cap hit of $19.4 million on its books in each of the next five seasons.
‘Zero Percent Chanche’ Bradley Beal Comes Back
John Gambodoro, the longtime Sports Radio Talk Show host of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, first reported about Beal getting bought out in April.
Gambodoro was adamant “that there’s a zero percent chance that Bradley Beal comes back” to the Suns next season.
“And I truly believe that, you know me, if I go out on a limb, on something I’m probably doing it for a reason,” Gambodoro said on “Burns and Gambo” show on April 13. “I don’t see a scenario in which Bradley Beal can come back.”
Gambodoro accurately predicted that Beal will have no trade market this offseason.
“I don’t believe you could trade [Beal],” Gambodoro added. “I think you go to the offseason and you try before to agree to any type of buyout or anything like that.”
It was also Gambodoro who foreshadowed Durant’s trade.
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