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Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal reportedly expects to remain with the team through Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline, per Sam Amick, David Aldridge and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
“A league source close to Beal reiterated on Tuesday that there are currently no talks about him waiving the clause, and that he expects to remain in Phoenix through the deadline,” the trio wrote.
Still, Beal held all the cards. Per NBA insider Jake Fischer on Feb. 3, “The unrelenting word continues to be that Beal has no desire to bless a trade pretty much anywhere and prefers to remain in Phoenix, where his family has been settling after finally leaving the nation’s capital.”
And so, with the trade deadline now fewer than 48 hours away, Beal appears like a lock to stick in Phoenix.
On a side note, the Suns’ reported interest in Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been out there for some time, but that’s been tied to Beal, who has $53.7 million remaining on his contract inn 2025-26 and can opt into a $57.1 million player option in 2026-27. Simply put, It’s a hefty contract that would have to be moved in order to make the numbers work.
Fred Katz of The Athletic explained the connection on Jan. 21.
“The front office has expressed strong interest in disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, according to multiple reports, and because of Beal’s salary and the Suns’ limited financial flexibility, they would need to include Beal in a trade for him (assuming the team’s top two performers, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, are both off the table).
“But Beal has a no-trade clause, the same one that directed him to the Suns two summers ago. Phoenix requires his approval to deal him.”
The Suns don’t appear likely to get that approval, so they’ll need to look elsewhere to make a trade.
Beal was brought into town via trade during the 2023 offseason following the Suns’ trade with the Washington Wizards. He was expected to form a big three with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to become a championship contender.
It hasn’t worked out for the group. Beal has been efficient in Phoenix, though, scoring 17.8 points on 50.5 percent shooting (41.7 percent from three). He’s now coming off the bench ever since Phoenix shook up the lineup by moving him and center Jusuf Nurkić to the second unit.
He’ll be with the Suns moving forward as they look to improve the roster elsewhere. Phoenix needs to figure something out, as the team is just 25-24, only good for 10th in the Western Conference.
Phoenix could just blow it up and move Kevin Durant, although the 15-time All-Star has remained excellent with 26.9 points per game.
However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick, David Aldridge and Anthony Slater reported that the Dallas Mavericks “have dreams of” trading for Durant. In addition, the Houston Rockets are “contemplating a pursuit” as well. Then there’s the Golden State Warriors, who are “legitimately calling about every All-Star player,” per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Ultimately, the Suns are still a team to watch as the deadline looms, even if Beal looks as if he’s staying.
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