Already boasting one of the best scorers in basketball with Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns added another elite bucket-getter by trading for Kevin Durant last season. Now, after swapping out Monty Williams for coach Frank Vogel, the Suns could be on the verge of making yet another significant addition by trading for Bradley Beal.
After 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards, there’s a sense Beal could be on the move this summer. Recent reports have suggested that if the Wizards are debating a full rebuild, the soon-to-be 30-year-old won’t want any part of it.
Beal has long been one of the most loyal players in basketball, wishing to stay with the Wizards who made him the third pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He’s even the only player in basketball with a full no-trade clause, giving Beal the final say on whether he’s traded and to whom.
Yet, that hasn’t stopped the Beal trade from heating up. According to Shams Charania, the Wizards are now in “serious talks with two finalists.” Those final contenders, according to Shams, are the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns. Specifically, the NBA insider notes the Suns “have emerged as a serious threat” to acquire Beal.
But the Suns already have two maximum contract players, with Booker and Durant, so how would adding Beal to the picture work out? Here’s one trade idea that could make sense for both sides.
Related: 2 NBA contenders reportedly unlikely pursue Bradley Beal trade, Brooklyn Nets could get involved
Phoenix Suns buy low on Bradley Beal
- Phoenix Suns trade: Deandre Ayton, Landry Shamet
- Washington Wizards trade: Bradley Beal
Financially, there’s really only one way to make this trade work for the Suns, without dealing Booker or Durant, who surely aren’t available. Asset-wise, well the Suns don’t have any tradeable first-round selections thanks to the Durant trade, so there’s no wiggle room there, either.
On paper, this trade return for Beal, one of the greatest scorers in the NBA today, doesn’t seem fair for Washington. Yet, reports have also indicated that the Wizards won’t be able to get a world-class trade haul for their three-time All-Star due to being owed $207 million over the next four seasons in addition to not playing more than 60 games in any of the past four seasons.
In turn, the Wizards may see more value in shedding Beal from the payroll and adding Ayton, who’s still just 25 (in July), while fully embracing a rebuilding situation that could land them a top talent in the draft in the next couple of years.
In a perfect world, the Wizards would love to auction Beal off to the highest bidding team, but with his no-trade clause, that just isn’t possible. He essentially has all the leverage, with the power to veto any move he doesn’t like.
Meanwhile, the Suns would suddenly have an unfair group of All-Star guards capable of getting a bucket whenever they want.
How would this team get stops? Who would handle point guard? Who’s filling out the frontcourt?
All of these questions would need separate answers, but at least the Suns would have no issues scoring under coach Vogel, who should be able to put together a strong defensive system on paper. Whether he gets the players to execute the plan may be a different story, but if the Suns pull off a Beal trade, they’d instantly become a top draw on NBA League Pass.
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