The Phoenix Suns got off to a red-hot start in the 2024-25 season but have gone ice-cold since. An embarrassing 117-90 loss to the Denver Nuggets dropped the Suns to 14-14 on the season and they’re now looking to make some changes to get back on track. Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reports that Phoenix is in discussions with the Miami Heat over a Jimmy Butler trade and is looking to move Jusuf Nurkic.
Jimmy Butler
Butler has been heavily linked to the Suns in recent weeks and Rankin reports that discussions with the Heat on the matter are ongoing. There is one hurdle, though, Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause.
“As for Bradley Beal, sources informed The Republic there still are conversations about a deal with the Miami Heat involving Jimmy Butler,” Rankin wrote. “Beal has a no-trade clause. So, he’d have to agree to a deal and it probably would be in the best interests of the Heat as part of any deal to have Beal then remove the no-trade clause from his contract.”
Beal and LeBron James are the only players in the NBA with a no-trade clause and have full control over their futures. If the Suns want Butler, they’ll have to find a way to convince the three-time All-Star to go to the Heat or somewhere else if this becomes a three-team deal.
Another headache for the Suns would be that teams wouldn’t exactly be lining up to land Beal. He will make $53.6 million in 2025-26 and has a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27.
Beal is only averaging 18.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game this season and is certainly not worth all the money he will be making. He has also struggled to stay healthy, and it won’t be easy to find a suitor.
If the Suns do manage to get Beal off their books and land Butler, though, it would certainly elevate them. The six-time All-Star is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Heat this season. He has taken a bit of a backseat on offense but is shooting an impressive 55.2% from the field.
Butler would also be a huge upgrade on the defensive end over Beal and the Suns sure do need more capable defenders on their roster. The question now is whether they’ll be able to pull off a deal here. It seems difficult, but doable.
Jusuf Nurkic
While the Suns are trying to figure out a way to land Butler, they’re also actively looking to part with Nurkic. The Bosnian has had a disappointing season and Rankin reports that Phoenix is looking to get another big in return for him.
“The Phoenix Suns have been actively looking to trade starting center Jusuf Nurkic, league sources informed The Arizona Republic,” Rankin wrote. “The Suns are seeking a big in return, the sources said. The team has been playing Mason Plumlee, rookie Oso Ighodaro and Nurkic at the five position. Washington Wizards big Jonas Valanciunas and Chicago Bulls big Nikola Vucevic are two players whose names have been reportedly thrown into league trade talks.”
The Suns landed Nurkic as part of the deal that sent Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks last year. His first season was somewhat of a mixed bag but this one just hasn’t been good at all.
Nurkic is averaging 9.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game for the Suns this season. He is shooting just 45.5% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc too. The Suns desperately need an upgrade over Nurkic and the two names Rankin mentioned would be just that, although they won’t be big ones.
Valanciunas is averaging 11.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Washington Wizards in 2024-25. He has primarily been coming off the bench for the Wizards but would be a solid starter for the Suns.
As for Vucevic, he is averaging 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Chicago Bulls in 2024-25. He’d be a huge upgrade offensively but has major defensive issues of his own.
Valanciunas or Vucevic themselves are not going to turn the Suns’ season around, but if they can get one of the two and Butler as well, then perhaps they’ll be a serious contender. These moves might only be made as we get closer to the deadline, though, so, for now, they have to work with what they have.
The Suns will take on the Nuggets again next at Footprint Center on Wednesday at 10:30 PM ET. They’ll be short-handed for that Christmas Day contest, though, as Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Bol Bol are all out.
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