Cap Watch: Above the First Apron, Thin on Picks

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Friday, October 2

Phoenix is carrying $216.2 million in payroll, above both the $200.4 million luxury tax line and the $209.0 million first apron. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks and Bradley Beal account for the bulk of that number, while the Suns' own draft picks are mostly swapped away or owed out through 2030.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Where the money sits. Phoenix's $216.2 million payroll clears the $200.4 million luxury tax line and the $209.0 million first apron, with the $221.7 million second apron still above that. The salary cap itself is set at $165.0 million, meaning the Suns are tens of millions over the line teams are built around.

Booker's number climbs. Devin Booker is making $57.1 million in 2026-27, the largest salary on the roster, and that figure rises to $61.0 million in 2027-28. He is signed well beyond this season, the one long-term anchor on a cap sheet otherwise full of options.

Green's player option. Jalen Green is set for $36.3 million this season, with a $36.0 million player option for 2027-28. That gives him a decision point after this year, while Phoenix's other two forwards, Miles Bridges ($22.8 million) and Dillon Brooks ($20.0 million), carry the next-largest salaries.

Beal's option year. Bradley Beal holds a $19.4 million player option for 2026-27, and the cap sheet lists him again at $19.4 million in 2027-28. Mark Williams, out for the season's start, is tied to $11.7 million this year and $12.7 million next.

Options picked up. The Suns exercised their 2027-28 rookie-scale options on Khaman Maluach and Ryan Dunn, locking Maluach in at $6.3 million this season and $6.6 million next, and Dunn at $2.8 million this season and $5.0 million next.

Picks mostly gone. Phoenix owes its 2027 first-round pick to Houston from the Durant trade and its 2029 second-rounder to New York. Every other first and second through 2030 is listed as a swap, leaving the Suns with little straightforward draft capital of their own.

On deck Preseason continues October 5 at the Pistons, October 7 at the Bulls and October 10 at home against the Spurs before Phoenix opens the regular season October 21 at the Trail Blazers.

Are the Suns over the luxury tax?

Yes. Phoenix's $216.2 million payroll is above the $200.4 million luxury tax line and the $209.0 million first apron.

Do the Suns have their own first-round picks?

Mostly not outright. The 2027 first-rounder is owed to Houston, and the picks through 2030 are listed as swaps rather than Phoenix's own selections.