Suns star Bradley Beal is often described as having the worst contract in the NBA. But even for a guy with such a heavy presence on the payroll, at least two teams were willing to take him this season: the Wizards and Hawks.
“Of all the teams Phoenix canvassed, sources said only the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks would consider taking on Beal if he’d waive his no-trade clause to go there,” wrote ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “The Suns clung to that hope for weeks, hoping that if they could improve their package to incentivize these teams to participate, and other trades the Wizards and Hawks were working on fell through, then maybe there would be a path to a deal.”
Beal, 31, is a 12-year NBA veteran, multiple-time All-Star and elite perimeter shooter. For his career, Beal is averaging 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 49.5% shooting. Beal was drafted by the Wizards in 2012 and he played there for 11 years before the Suns traded for him in the summer of 2023.
Of course, in light of the recent Jimmy Butler saga, Beal’s future with the team is now in doubt given how eager they are to replace him with Jimmy Butler. After Butler expressed his desire to go there, Mat Ishbia sent his team into overdrive to add him to the roster at any cost. The only problem is that Bradley Beal’s no-trade cause gives him complete control over the situation and he has the power to veto any deal he’s included in. At 9th in the West, the Suns tried to convince Beal to see the light and sign off on a trade to the Heat but nothing ever materialized.
Beal returning to the Wizards would have been a great story for the NBA. Before he left the team, Beal was happy as their leading star and he had developed a relationship of trust with the organization. Going back would not have been to help the team win but he could have thrived as a mentor to the young stars trying to grow their game.
In Atlanta, Beal’s arrival would have helped take some pressure off Trae Young, who is the last man standing after a flurry of trades over the years. Beal and Young would have had a claim for the best backcourt in the NBA but still far off from being title contenders.
Beal managed to avoid another trade this season but to say his future with the Suns is murky might be an understatement. If the team doesn’t start winning more consistently, Mat Ishbia will push to make changes and Beal will be the one who gets blamed.
The only way forward for the Suns is total dominance in the playoffs. With amazing star power and solid depth, there are no more excuses for this franchise and Beal will be along for the ride whether they like it or not.
With another three years and $160 million left on his deal, Beal will be able to decide his fate for the foreseeable future. And while a return to D.C. is off the table now, it could be an option later during Beal’s final home stretch in the NBA.
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