Blockbuster deal! Beal will join the Suns + Paul Shamet leaves: Phoenix Group New Big Four to Champion
On June 19, Beijing time, according to Woj and Shams, the Wizards and the Suns reached a blockbuster trade agreement, and Beal will be sent to the Suns in exchange for Paul, Shamet, multiple second-round picks and multiple draft picks to swap rights. Beal will join forces with Booker, Durant and Ayton to form the new Big Four to impact the championship. According to sources, the specific transaction process may take several days to complete. The Wizards are not expected to keep Paul and will send him to a competitive team, and the Clippers are expected to pursue him.
Bill's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed that the trade framework is in place to allow Bill to join the Suns. "It's an extremely complex process that requires overcoming many different obstacles, and Ted Leonsis and Michael Winger are incredible partners in making it happen." From the day Bill was selected, they supported Bill in every way, and we are very grateful. ”
To make the deal, Bill will not use the trade veto. However, the Suns' top-heaviness problem has not been solved, and they now have 4 maximum salary contracts on the team, which is seriously more than the second line of the collective agreement, which also makes the Suns' follow-up reinforcement work face serious challenges.
According to sources, Suns' management and core players have decided that Beal's arrival at Phoenix will help them eventually achieve their goal of winning the championship. Owner Ishbiah is willing to pay a huge luxury tax on Beal's trade in order to have a chance to storm the championship for several seasons to come. In 2023-24, the combined salaries of Beal, Durant, Booker and Ayton alone will reach $163 million.
For the Wizards, they will get rid of Beal's remaining four-year, $207 million contract, the Wizards have missed the playoffs four times in the past five years, and they are now willing to enter rebuilding mode, however, the Suns have no first-round trade to trade, and previously ran out in the Durant trade.
For Beal, this is the perfect opportunity for him to storm the championship. He played just 50 games due to injury in 2022-23, averaging 23.2 points per game and shooting a career-high 51 percent from the field. Soon some American media posted Durant's team experience, saying that he was playing in a super team again.
Salary expert Gozlan said the deal would require Paul's guaranteed salary for the 2023-24 season to go from at least $15.8 million to at least $25 million.
Alec Sturm said the deal certainly makes the Suns better, but it won't solve their problems. Next season will be interesting: Not sure how the Nets' draft pick will be affected. Previously, the Suns gave the Nets a future first-round round in the Durant trade.