of phoenix suns They have the most expensive roster in the NBA. If the season ended today, Phoenix wouldn't even make it to the Western Conference play-in tournament due to the brutal run through December. As the NBA trade deadline approaches on February 6th, the Suns feel like the most desperate team in the league, but their ability to add talent is severely limited by several factors.
The Suns enter this week with an overall record of 15-18 and currently sit as the 12th seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix has already announced two major changes. Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic moved to the benchrookies Ryan Dunn and Mason Plume are in the starting lineup. This wasn't supposed to happen when the Suns acquired Beal ahead of last season, but it could be a sign of even bigger things to come as the trade deadline approaches.
The biggest name in the NBA trade world right now is Jimmy Butler. The Heat suspended Butler for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team and released an official statement saying they are considering a trade for the disgruntled veteran. Butler's trade request began with reports that the Suns were one of the teams he was interested in joining, but Phoenix can't afford to do so without trading Beal.
There is a catch. Beal is one of only two players in the league, along with LeBron James, to have a no-trade clause in his contract. If the Suns want to trade him, Beal will need to approve it. What better way to convince him to leave town than by benching him?
Listen, if you want Beal to waive his no-trade clause, taking him off the bench for the first time in a decade seems like one way to do it.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) January 6, 2025
Of course, getting Beal's consent is just one hurdle in considering a potential trade for him. The Suns need to find a team to bring him back. of The Heat reportedly have no intention of getting Beal back in the Butler trade.. Can a third team save the day?
Beal's biggest problem is the contract. He is owed $53.6 million next season and has a $57.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which he is likely to pick up. Even matching that salary will be difficult thanks to the complex rules of this new CBA, but there are a few teams that can do it.
Beal's play is another matter. At 31 years old, Beal may still be a capable player, but he'll never produce enough value to fill a contract. He still shot the ball well this year, shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range and a league-average true shooting percentage of 57.6 percent. However, he will always face questions defensively, as he doesn't attack the basket as vertically as before.
Phoenix doesn't have much else to offer. They still have a first-round pick in 2031 and Denver second-round picks in 2026 and 2031. That could include Grayson Allen, who has three seasons left on his contract with an average annual salary of about $18 million.
Even if Beal were to waive his no-trade clause, would any team actually be willing to sign him?
Regarding beer, there is a looming threat of trade failure. He could have gone to Milwaukee before arriving in Phoenix, but that was denied. I've heard he won't waive a trade to Los Angeles, Miami or Denver, but I believe there are several other teams he could ultimately land the job with.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) January 6, 2025
It's easy to believe reports that there is tension in the Phoenix locker room. There's no need to mortgage Kevin Durant's future just to be a mid-major team in the Western Conference. The Suns need an infusion of talent at center with Nurkic in the midst of a disastrous season. They need to trade Beal for a player who doesn't overlap with Durant or Devin Booker. With 12 teams competing in eight playoff sports, nothing can wait in the busy Western Conference. Currently, the Suns have the worst record in the West among teams that are actually trying to win.
The Suns need a miracle to happen before the trade deadline. Trading Beal is the only real solution, but the market for him may not exist. The pressure will continue to mount in Phoenix as the losses pile up.
