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Ramona Shelburne
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Ramona Shelburne
ESPN Senior Writer
- Senior writer for ESPN.com
- Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News
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Bobby Marks
TO SAY THE Phoenix Suns‘ deal for Bradley Beal last offseason hasn’t worked out the way either side wanted would be an understatement.
They were swept in the first round of the playoffs last spring, and are now ninth in the Western Conference, despite a run of eight wins in their past 11 games. But that all-in move has left Phoenix in a difficult position. Any trade it might attempt to make a major change to the roster — without giving up cornerstone stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant — would require Beal’s approval, because he has a no-trade clause. And Beal and his agent have said publicly they have no intention of waiving it.
This presupposes that the trade for Beal is the original roster construction problem in Phoenix that must be solved — that under the new collective bargaining agreement, building a team around three max salary players, one of whom is performing far below a max level, is untenable.
But if Beal doesn’t change his mind and agree to waive his no-trade clause — to go to Miami, Milwaukee or any number of destinations that would bring back players that could help the Suns — that problem cannot be solved.
Add in the restrictions for being over the second apron and Phoenix’s problem becomes a complicated mess, one that won’t have an easy fix ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, all eyes are on Washington Wizards’ star Bradley Beal. Despite ongoing rumors and speculation, Beal remains a hot commodity on the trade market, with multiple teams vying for his services. One team that has emerged as a potential destination for Beal is the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns, led by All-Star guard Devin Booker, have been on the rise in recent years and are currently one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Adding a player of Beal’s caliber would undoubtedly make them even more formidable contenders in the loaded Western Conference.
One potential scenario that has been floated around is a blockbuster trade that would send Beal to the Suns in exchange for a package centered around sharpshooter Kevin Durant. While Durant has been a key contributor for the Suns, Beal’s scoring ability and playmaking skills could take their offense to the next level.
With Beal’s ability to control the game on both ends of the court, his impact on the Suns could be monumental. His scoring prowess, paired with Booker’s elite shooting and playmaking, could create a formidable backcourt duo that would strike fear into opposing teams.
As the trade deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Bradley Beal and the potential impact he could have on a team like the Phoenix Suns. With his ability to control the game and elevate his teammates, Beal could be the missing piece that propels the Suns to championship contention. Stay tuned as the trade deadline approaches to see if this blockbuster deal comes to fruition.
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- Bradley Beal trade rumors
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- Devin Booker trade speculation
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- Kevin Durant trade rumors
- Devin Booker trade rumors
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