TA reporter: A buyout agreement with Bill is enough to match the worst decision in the history of the Suns

TA reporter Doug Haller wrote an article about Bill and the Suns reaching a buyout agreement, which he believes is enough to match the worst decision in the history of the Suns: the failure to renew Joe Johnson in 2005.

Bill's journey to the Suns officially ended as he negotiated with the Suns to buy out the untraded contract. According to The Athletic reporter Fred Katz, Bill will give up $13.8 million of the $110.8 million that the Sun would have to pay in the next two years. The Suns can share the remaining $97 million to pay for five years, forming a "dead money" salary space of 19.4 million per year, which will last until the 2029-30 season.

The intention of this win-win deal is clear: the Suns can turn over the disappointing chapter, get rid of the restrictions of the first/second tycoon line, and create conditions for rebuilding their competitive lineup; although Bill, who has recovered his free agent, has cut his salary significantly, he will join the Western Conference Powerhouse. It is expected that after the clarification period, he will sign the Los Angeles Clippers with a two-year, $11 million contract.

In the summer of 2023, the Suns got Bill through a deal involving Paul, and look forward to the scorer forming a big three with Durant and Booker to compete for the championship. At the press conference, Bill was asked the first question about the playoffs, which he rarely experienced in his 11 years of playing for the Washington Wizards.

Reality is heading in the opposite direction. In the two seasons with the "Big Three", the Suns not only failed to compete for the championship, but even failed to win the playoffs. Last season, he scored 36 wins and 46 losses with the most expensive lineup in the league, and failed to even make the play-offs. Angry boss Matt Ishbiya vowed to change.

When talking about the worst decisions in the history of the Suns, locals always mention the failure to renew Joe Johnson in 2005, a key puzzle for the Western Conference powerhouse. His departure may directly lead to the Nash era missing the championship. Many years later, Robert Savor, the then-boss, made this a lifelong regret.

and the Bill trade is enough to match this failure. The problem is not its performance, but its symbolic meaning: this heavy team has neither chemical reaction nor a fighting spirit, and it eventually becomes an expensive laughing stock.

This is not Bill's full responsibility. He should have known that this premium contract, transaction veto, overlapping with Booker's functions, and injury history are all no secrets. Of course, as a three-time All-Star, he averaged 30 points per game two years ago, and his combination with Durant and Booker is indeed a lot of imagination. But someone in the Suns management should realize: "If the effect is not as good as expected, we will be in trouble."

To be fair, Bill did adjust his playing style to meet the needs of the team. He often performed brilliantly: when the Suns lacked point guard, they organized attacks, defended the opponent's outside sharp swords, and even took the initiative to accept the role of substitute last season, but the problem far exceeded his personal positioning.

Discovered by the salary restrictions of the second rich line, the Suns' path to strengthening last season was extremely limited. Bill was originally an ideal bargaining chip, but no one in the league is interested in the face of high-paying and fragile defenders. This triggered a chain reaction: the Suns who could not send Bill away turned to trade Durant, first failed to try on the deadline, and finally reached an agreement with the Houston Rockets in July to exchange Durant for packages including sports guard Jaylen Green, defensive champion Dillon and the 10th pick in the first round (selected Duke center Carman Maruac).