Devin Booker Staying, Bradley Beal Leaving… and LeBron Coming to the Suns?

Devin Booker Staying, Bradley Beal Leaving… and LeBron Coming to the Suns?

[Music] Man, I look terrible compared to earlier in the week. Get that stuff out of here. It’s Southwest Bias. [Music] Welcome into Southwest Bias live from Westgate in Vegas and yeah, it’s NBA summer league and I’m back in the saddle. Uh I’m not sure what I missed because it feels like next to nothing and everything happened while I was gone. But yeah, can the internet just calm down? Can the internet just stop it? I mean, earlier today, reports about the discontent with LeBron and the Lakers came out and it was pretty clear that LeBron isn’t happy. And I get this, this is an Arizona sports show. We’re going to get to it because you know what happened? I mean, we talked about this last week. Now that the LeBron stuff is heating up, everybody pivots to, well, Bradley Beal hasn’t been bought out yet. Does that mean LeBron’s coming to Phoenix? Does that mean what they were waiting for? Is that it? No. Knock it off. LeBron James isn’t coming to Phoenix. Just stop it. We had a whole whole monologue on this last week and everybody’s falling back in to that trap just because now LeBron isn’t happy. Uh, you know, in Los Angeles, I don’t care. LeBron’s not coming to Phoenix, but Bradley Beal still hasn’t been bought out. And why is that the case? There’s nothing to worry about. We’re out here in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League. We talked about ESPN’s Bobby Marks yesterday, and he made it very clear that both sides want to get it done, and that this is simply just kind of finer points in a negotiation. And yeah, Bradley Beal’s giving up $13.8 8 million to get this done. So maybe it’ll take a little bit of time to decide where he’s going, what money he’s getting there, and how he feels about it. And he holds all the cards. So if he wants to drag his feet just to screw with people, he could. Do I think he’s doing that? No. Because Bradley Beal is a good guy. But honestly, everybody panicking about this, it’s not a big deal. Even Fred Katz of the Athletic that we talked to yesterday said the same thing. There’s nothing to worry about. Mark Stein, NBA insider who’s going to join us in the second half of the program. I’m pretty well willing to guarantee he’d tell you, don’t worry about the Bradley Bill buyout. It’s going to happen. It’s coming. And guess what? For those of you who don’t like it, I’m sorry, but it’s likely going to be a wave and stretch to save over, some estimates say as much as 200 plus million dollars uh in luxury tax and unlock the full mid-level exception because you get under the first apron. This is where we’re headed. And you know what they’re going to add? They’re likely going to add a point guard when this is all said and done. Malcolm Brogden’s br been brought up. the Anthony Melton. There are plenty of options that the Phoenix Suns can chase. And just like we said last week, I still don’t think it’s going to be Chris Paul. Everything I’ve heard is that’s just likely not going to be a marriage that’s going to happen. That the Clippers are more likely to happen even if they add Bradley Beal. And I’m okay with that. I think the Suns need to commit to the youth movement. I think they need to figure out how many minutes they can get Jaylen Green and Devin Booker and even Colin Gillespie and whoever this other point guard that they sign is. Moving on and not going backwards is what this off season’s all been about. And part of that moving forward is Deon Booker’s extension. And people, I mean, I cannot believe the national media and the visceral reaction to Devin Booker’s $145 million extension. It’s all slotted. I don’t know why. It’s not like the Suns went out of their way to negotiate paying him this much. And the fact that now he has the richest contract in NBA history per year, which will change probably before next season. The next Max guy to sign is going to make more money than him. Nicolai Joic, whether it’s this year or next year that he signs, is going to make more money than Devin Booker. By the time this kicks in, Devin Booker probably won’t be a top 20 pay player based on yearly salary. So why everybody is freaking out on a national level, acting like both Deon Booker and the Suns made some crazy miscalculation. There’s even national pundits suggesting, well, they should have waited two or three years before they tried to extend him and just see what happens. You know what happens then? You piss off your s superstar. You upset somebody who has been loyal to your franchise since day one. Believe me, I know. I was out here for the first summer league with Devin Booker. interviewed him behind the scenes as a young guy, rookie coming in to summer league. And this kid was thrilled to be here then and he’s thrilled to be here now a decade later when he’s a man leading this franchise, when he’s the all-time leading scorer. Loyalty is important and it’s underrated. And it also sends a message to plenty of other people around the NBA that yeah, sure, as an organization, we moved on from Kevin Durant and we’re going to move on from Bradley Beal, but guess what? Guys who produce and have have won in the past here, guys that are loyal to us will be rewarded. And people like that loyalty. Players like seeing that loyalty. Fans like seeing a player who has that loyalty. Larry Fitzgerald did it here in Phoenix and everybody praised him. Oh, he stayed with the Cardinals, you know, even through all those bad quarterbacks that threw to him. He’s the second best receiver in NFL history and he did it all in a Cardinals uniform. I don’t understand why some Suns fans don’t want that as well. To see Devin Booker never put on another unit. That is what this should accomplish or at least be the start of accomplishing Deon Booker never leaving. He’s made it very clear he wants the Kobe Bryant path on that. And I don’t think this is an overpay for a guy that means that much to your franchise for a guy who nobody will argue is a top 20 isn’t a top 20 player in the NBA and most of us would argue that you know he’s closer to a top 15 in the NBA. the back half of that 15 obviously, but this is a guy that was an MVP voting. He was the best player on a team that was up 20 in the finals. That hasn’t changed. Just the position he was put in fundamentally changed when you brought in a Kevin Durant, a guy that had skill sets similar to his in terms of the way that they like to score. Devin Booker is still him and he deserved every dollar that he got. And I do not understand why people don’t accept that and don’t praise him for his loyalty and the Suns for being willing to make it happen. Because sure, you could have moved on from Devin Booker, but then you’re spending time trying to find a Devin Booker. And yeah, maybe this year will be kind of a rebuilding, a a middle-of the road year where you try to get these young guys up to speed and you let Devin Booker be the star. But anybody saying that Devin Booker is simply going to be Bradley Beal in Washington does not understand what this team’s trying to accomplish, does not see the path that they’ve set forward, and does not realize how much cap space they’ll have in two years to be able to spend. And I know, oh, 20 million in debt money from Bradley Beal, that’s going to tank free agency. Guess what? You got an owner who will go over the aprons. We’ll spend and that 20 million won’t matter all that much. And that percentage of that cap is going to continue to drop year in and year out. So, yeah, LeBron ain’t coming. Bradley Bill’s going, and Devin Brookings Brooklyn’s staying. And I’m back. You got to be ready to listen to me. We welcome in the mustache behind the Mac, Shane Dembbach, live here from Vegas. Shane, how are you, my friend? I’m fantastic. This is my favorite place in the world. Not the sun that I’m in right now, but but Vegas. Well, that’s your favorite place as well. You love being in that and talking. Don’t lie. Okay. Well, you’re paid to like it, so deal with it. Uh, look, uh, what are your thoughts? We haven’t had a You and I have not had a chance to talk about the Devin Booker extension. And are you okay with it? Like, do you have an issue with it? Not only Not only was it not the right time to wait because you don’t want to piss him off, but also then you pay him more money. Like, yes, it goes up every time the cap goes up. You had to do this. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I agree. And uh I think we’re in alignment that uh that LeBron James is not coming to Phoenix. So, knock it off, internet. Just knock it off. I don’t want to hear it anymore. Uh on the other side of the break, I’ve got one of my favorite people in the world to talk to. Uh, don’t tell my wife because it’s our anniversary and I’m saying Mark Stein is one of my favorite people to talk to, but he is and he’s coming up right after the break here on Southwest Bias with me. Espo. All right, it’s time to tell you about our friends at Circle K. It’s summer and you do some driving, especially if you’re in Arizona and you’re in the heat, you want to get the heck out, right? You want to go to California, you want to go somewhere, you want to come up here to Vegas and enjoy the pools and and everything that comes along with it. Well, you got to stop at Circle K when you’re doing it. And I’ve told you, join the inner circle, right? It’s it’s it’s money that you’re just going to save just by simply downloading the app and putting in your phone number. It’s that easy. You’re going to save five you’re going to save 25 cents per gallon on your first five Phillips. And you’re going to save 3 cents per gallon after that. Then you’re going to hit the ESPO level. 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If you go to the arena, they’ve got everything that you could want and you look great in it. But these hats are fantastic for the hot summer, too. They are breathable. They are comfortable. You’re going to want to get one to protect yourself from the sun, but also not sweat too much under your hat. You’ll love it. Uh they’ve got over 40 partnerships with universities, including, like I said, ASU and UVA, uh with their campus collection. They’re a local company from Mesa. So, why not shop with them? Uh head to branded bills.com and use promo code BB PHNX for 15% off your first order. I’m going to slide over and our friend Mark Stein, NBA insider, uh, from DLS and the Stein line. We will welcome him in, uh, and we’ll let him get the headset on, as you wehift sets here in Las Vegas. Mark, how are you, my friend? Not Phil Espazito, not Tony Espazito. I wish. Espo Espazito. Yes, that is me with the orange sun shades. Yeah. And it’s good to see you in person. Not just the box on the TV. Good to be here, man. You know, I absolutely love being in Vegas. So, I am uh I am enjoying myself. You’re enjoying robustly here at Westgate. You’re having a good time. Having a blast. Good. Uh look, the the hottest topic for Suns fans right now is the Bradley Beal buyout. Now, I I’ve talked to a lot of people. I don’t get a sense that it’s something to worry about. Fans are a little concerned. What have you heard uh from around the league so far? Yeah, look, I I think it’s going to end up in buyout fashion. I haven’t heard anything to dissuade me from that. But fans worry because they care and this is one of the most significant unresolved matters in NBA free agency and as Jake Fischer put together beautifully, he he posted a story earlier this week on my Substack about it. when Beal gets his there, you know, there’s some very prominent well-known veteran guards around the league. Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogden, Ben Simmons, like all of these guys, their fates are going to, you know, be the Beal domino has to drop first. So, it’s not just Suns fans who are impatient. There’s a lot of people who want to see what’s going to happen here so we can get some things resolved. But uh I I I remain convinced that it will end up in buyout fashion and he will be exiting the Suns and then you know one of the things can’t remember if I said it or Jake said it maybe we both said it the whispers have been that they want a veteran guard and so the question will be does this lead to the Chris Paul reunion. There’s also been a lot of talk that maybe the Clippers would do Beal and Chris Paul. I mean, the only certainty on Chris Paul that we know is the Suns and the Clippers are the two team those are the two likeliest destinations. I don’t foresee Chris Paul landing with someone else. He could have gone he would have had, you know, he’s had interest from Milwaukee. He’s had interest from Charlotte. He’s had interest from Dallas. He’s made it very clear. He said it, you know, you don’t need to hear it from me. Chris Paul has said it in his own words. He if he’s going to play a 21st season, he wants it to be close to his LA base. And Phoenix is as far away from his LA base that he wants to stray. So, it will either be Suns or Clippers, I think, for Chris Paul. But again, the the Bradley Beal domino has to fall first. What what I’ve heard uh is that interest on the CP3 side maybe more or with this him coming to the Suns maybe more on the CP3 side. It may be, but I look I no I I think and I again I think it depends on who you would ask probably. Um and I I think it’s pretty well known that he and Devin Booker are close and have a good relationship. So look, Jordan Knot is a firstear coach. Chris Paul is a very vocal 20-year veteran. So naturally, I would imagine that there are there’s like how would that how would that mesh? Yeah. But the Suns have a clear need and I think Chris Paul could fill that need. But yeah, I mean Chris Paul might get an opportunity from the Clippers he likes better. The Suns could decide they’d rather go in a different direction. Like it is not it is not clear yet exactly how that will play out. But I do think the the Suns do have that need and he really would help them. But, you know, it it would be a reunion with some layers and they’re going to have to figure out if that’s really what they want to do. I am I’m interested in your opinion when it comes to the wave stretch. We’ve heard it uh with Bradley Beiel was obviously used on Dame Lillard. Is that people seem especially Suns fans seem to be really concerned about that dead money on a cap. Uh what is kind of your thoughts on that? Well, I think I think the concern stems from the fact that like I now again you’re asking me cap questions which I’m I’m I I I don’t have their cap situation memorized like I should. No, I like I don’t I don’t need specific numbers as I as I under like I I believe they duck under the second apron if they do the wave and stretch, but it doesn’t give the Suns a slew of dramatic benefits right off the top. But like that rumble has been there kind of since since before the draft that the Suns would like to get under the second apron. So if a wave and stretch gets them under the second apron, yeah, it’s going to be it’s going to be a number in the 18 million range that sits on the on the cap for five years. But then again, Ishbia does have the wherewithal to just buy him out if they can. And that’s the thing, they got to agree on a number. this if you do the wave and stretch we know very clearly that be has to relinquish 14 million so like if you do the wave and stretch the buyout number is kind of known and set and established if they don’t do the wave and stretch theoretically does that complicate the buyout negotiations because then it’s harder to fixate you know laser in on a number I feel like Devin Booker could just give him the 14 million after that contract extension he signed what what were your impressions and and the impression totally expected. I mean the number floors people so that’s why I think you’re asking me the question but this is 0% surprise. I mean I I think I wrote it in May that it was a known April May I don’t even remember when it was. I mean it was everybody knew Deon Booker was getting this deal. It’s just a matter of where is the cap going to land like even the reported number I don’t think that is exact. We can’t give you a reported number yet until we see exactly where the salary cap falls cuz you know the projections now are that it’s only going to go up 7% next season. But whatever the number is, it’s going to be between 135 and 150 and and Devin Booker will be doing just fine. Yeah, I think people struggle with the thought that oh, he’s the high, you know, he has the highest salary per year uh based on that extension, but somebody else will be that guy. I mean, what Shay just said that and then Deon beat him and the next guy will be next. summer there will be someone new and the summer after that and the summer after that and it’s just this is this is the reality. So what do you but I but listen I mean I think I’ve I’ve told you this before you know my favorite team in sports is Manchester City and I worry about every little thing too. So it’s like I totally I totally get it. Like my team just came here for the Club World Cup in the United States and they’re playing games at 300 p.m. in Orlando and I’m like, you know, throwing things going, the heat, this is horrendous. What’s what’s it going to mean in August? So, like I I totally get it. The Beal signing hasn’t happened yet. So, naturally, people are going to be like, what’s up? What’s going on? Um, but I I do think that it’s going to end up the way we all think it’s going to end up. Yeah. Uh we were joking because the internet has uh popped off a little bit today with the LeBron James news and Suns fans trying to draw the uh the line to Bradley Beal and I’m like just stop. Yeah, there’s no line. There’s no there was never there’s no point that the Lakers are not trading for Bradley Beal’s contract. I feel reasonably confident in in in promising you that. Mark, I have been I have been so adamant that nobody would trade for that contract that I made a deal with my viewers that I would chug a bottle of Tabasco sauce live on the show if Bradley Beal actually got traded. That’s how confident I was that it wasn’t going to happen. Impressive. And I’m glad I wasn’t wrong. Very daring of you. What uh what else you got going on out here at Summer League? What you hearing and and what you working on? Well, we uh we got a great show later today on DLS Mavs because we’re going to have Ryan Nebhard, the Mavs rookie sensation, is scheduled to join us. So, we are very excited about that. And like I said, honestly, I just I love being here. Summer League is very meaningful to me personally, the very first thing I was just telling some of my DLS colleagues some of these stories that I was, you know, they were their eyes were glazing over as I was boring them to tears. Now it’s now now it’s now now now it’s your turn. Um my first NBA assignment was NBA summer league 1989. It was at Lyola Maramount University in Southern California. Just a completely different world than than than what Vegas is. But to come back in my old age and like yesterday Kevin Gray our host of our show host of our show you know he that was the first summer league live experience that he got to cover. So, it was like he was really excited and it’s, you know, fun for me as the old man to just kind of see his, you know, how fired up he was to go into Thomas and Mac. And also, look, I mean, I I went to Cal State Fullerton when I was in college. Vegas was in our conference. So, for me, since college, coming here is it just there’s like something very like it’s it’s just a deeply meaningful basketball experience. And I, you know, to do it like this where we have we actually have a home and get to do all these shows. It’s a lot of fun. What What’s your best summer league story that you can actually share? Um I I also just I don’t know if it’s my best, but it’s my it’s my first and I just told the guys this story. So I would I got in in these day in those days summer league was not televised. It was not a destination. It would there were there were very few fans. It was it was like I said at Lyola Maramount which is very near LAX and it was just a completely different world and writers didn’t cover it especially I was work I was in college working in Southern California the Lakers went to the finals almost every year in the 80s so like the Lakers writer even the Clippers writer who would work on the finals like as soon as the NBA season was over on July 1 like they were out like see you see you at camp beat writers it’s not like today where like every beat writer in the world and every NBA podcaster in the world, everybody wants to come to Vegas. It was not like that at all. So, I kind of won the battle within as as a just as a as a part-time part-time writer at the Orange County Register. Okay, I had a wonderful editor named Robin Romano and I pestered her for a year and she let me she I just wore her down and she let me do summer league and I was just I was 20 years old terrified but like the the like so happy and I walk into the gym. I’m literally I didn’t even get through the door of the gym and I run right into Mark Eaton Utah’s 7 foot4 man mountain. I and I’m like, “Oh my god, there’s a real NBA player here. I have to interview him.” I nervously pull out my tape recorder. I’m cra, you know, I’m holding my tape recorder as high as I can, asking him the most. I have no nothing prepared. And I was so nervous, so awkward, but I I figured I had to ask him some questions. He was so nice, so gracious, just like so like trying to put me at ease. He could tell I was nervous and scared and like it was great. like he never forgot that I was he was the first NBA player that I interviewed and um why he was even there I don’t even remember because he wasn’t a summer league participant. So it’s just like like I just I I will never forget that feeling and starting being that clueless when I started and uh that that that one comes I don’t know if it’s my best story but it it it it’s what comes to mind the most meaningful. Well Mark I really appreciate your time. Follow him at the Stein Line. I I beg you to subscribe to his I do because I’m a paid customer and I love it and it’s where I tune to to get my NBA news and the best part is it hits your inbox. I don’t have to go search for it. I find out right away. Remind me, are we doing this again Monday? Are you guys still here? Uh we’re here. I don’t know uh if we’ll be here or maybe we’ll have you call in, but uh one way or another we’ll be talking out here. Great to see you guys. Great to be with you guys. Mark Stein out here. We thank him. Uh I I’m going to tell you my favorite summer sto summer summer league story guys. Uh I’ve told it I think on this program or on the Suns before. Uh my first year out here 12 years ago. Uh it was kind of the advent of uh Twitter with the NBA and a lot of us uh a lot of us digital uh producers that were running the accounts would kind of go back and forth. We’d have fake beef. We’d have fun during summer league games to try to make them intriguing. Well, uh, we myself and my pred or my, uh, you know, my co-worker at the Mavericks, uh, wound up kind of going back and forth for a large part of a of a summer league game that wasn’t a particularly good game. Uh, and uh, all the Mavericks had uh, big men had fouled out and I made some crack from the Suns account that maybe if Mark Cuban invested in some uh, big men on Shark Tank, they wouldn’t have this roster problem right now uh, in their summer league. Something to that extent. Uh, Mark got uh, angry at that tweet and I thought my career in the NBA was over. Uh, but luckily uh, cooler heads prevailed. Mark was really cool. But we actually caught up with him yesterday. Uh, and I finally got to thank him for not getting me fired from the NBA. With Ph. I used to run my son’s in or son’s Twitter account back in 13 years ago. I wanted to thank you because summer league probably about 12 years ago. Me and my Mavs account going back and forth and I made a Shark Tank joke that that upset you and you didn’t get me fired. Well, Mark was gracious and that was just one sarcastic part of our interview. Really great interview coming up on the PHNX YouTube page where Mark talks about how he kind of helped Matt Ishbia when he joined the league. saw a little of himself in Matt and how exactly it is to be an owner that wants to come in and make big moves and make your splash with a team and how to kind of balance that and eventually turn into a winner. Great conversation with Mark Cuban coming up on PHNX’s YouTube page later today. I want to thank Mark Stein for joining me. Shane, was there anything in the chat that we need to address today? No, the chat’s just being nasty today. Oh, come on, guys. I mean, respect. Not not to me, right? No, I’ve been gone for a week. I hope you’re not being nasty to me. You want to be nasty, go tweet Bo Brock. All right, here’s what I’ll say. Um, they deserve they deserve to be nasty today because we are a little nasty with the thumbnail. Oh, that’s true. We did a little bait and switch. Yeah, we did. Because I told you what the thumbnail implied isn’t going to happen. It’s not going to happen at all. He is Shane De andbach, the mustache behind the Mac. Follow him at Shane Def. You can follow the show at phnx_ports. You can follow me at Espo. And remember, just because a superstar is disgruntled doesn’t mean the other team’s going to trade for your bad contract. Ohoy hoy. [Music]

📬 Arizona sports in your inbox! https://gophnx.com/newsletter

Devin Booker looks locked in long-term and *Bradley Beal* is on his way out. But could the internet dreamers get their wish of *LeBron James* joining the Suns and Booker?

Plus, NBA Insider Marc Stein joins the program.

0:00 – Intro
1:30 – LeBron James and the Phoenix Suns
4:00 – Devin Booker Extension
13:00 – Marc Stein talks Bradley Beal buyout
15:00 – Chris Paul: Clippers or Suns?

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