This offseason, the Phoenix Suns face a unique challenge that demands innovative strategies due to their salary cap situation, placing them in the restrictive second tax apron. As a result, creative financial maneuvering will be essential.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks highlights the significance of Matt Tellem’s recent appointment as assistant general manager. “He is probably one of the more creative cap guys around,” Marks remarked on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo show. “Given Phoenix’s financial constraints, his out-of-the-box thinking will be crucial.”
The Suns will encounter several restrictions, notably the inability to combine multiple players in a single trade. Marks identified this as a major hurdle, saying, “The inability to aggregate contracts when sending out players is a challenge.”
For instance, the Suns wouldn’t have been able to pull off the Kevin Durant trade from February 2023 under these new rules, as it involved sending multiple players to the Brooklyn Nets. Tellem, who was part of the Nets’ front office during that trade, brings valuable experience, including involvement in complex deals like the Royce O’Neale three-team trade.
Additionally, the Suns are restricted from purchasing draft picks or including cash in trades, and can only use the veteran’s minimum exception in free agency. They also can’t take back more salary in trades than they send out.
To navigate these limitations, Phoenix’s front office, led by minds like Tellem, will need to devise complex solutions. This might involve trading a player to a team with cap space, exploring multi-team deals, or engaging in sign-and-trades, possibly involving free agent Royce O’Neale.
The Suns have experience with such scenarios. Last offseason, many of their minimum contract signings included player options for the second year to offer additional incentives. They also actively used pick swaps to recover some of their depleted second-round picks. Expect similar strategies this offseason.
