The Suns benching Bradley Beal could have deeper meaning for NBA trade rumors

The Phoenix Suns have the most expensive roster in the NBA. If the season ended today, Phoenix wouldn’t even make the play-in tournament in the Western Conference thanks to an atrocious stretch to end Dec. With the NBA trade deadline approaching on Feb. 6, the Suns feel like the league’s most desperate team, but their ability to add talent is heavily restricted by several factors.

The Suns enter the week at just 15-18 overall, currently sitting at the No. 12 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix has already announced two big changes: Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic are moving to the bench, while rookie Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumee are entering the starting lineup. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go when the Suns acquired Beal ahead of last season, and it could be a sign of bigger things to come as the trade deadline nears.

The biggest name on the NBA trade block right now is Jimmy Butler. The Heat suspended Butler for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team while issuing a public statement that they’re looking to trade the disgruntled veteran. Butler’s trade request started with a report that the Suns are one team he’s interested in joining, but Phoenix can’t make the money work without Beal in the trade.

There’s a catch: Beal is one of two players in the league along with LeBron James to have a no trade clause in his contract. If the Suns want to deal him, Beal has to approve it. What better way to convince him to get out of town than by benching him?

Of course, getting Beal’s consent is just one hurdle in potentially trading him. The Suns need to find a team that would take him back. The Heat reportedly have no desire to take back Beal in a Butler trade. Could a third team save the day?

The biggest issue with Beal is his contract. He’s owed $53.6 million next season, and has a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s likely to pick up. It’s hard just to match that salary thanks to the byzantine rules of this new CBA, but there are a few teams who could do it.

Beal’s play is another issue. At 31 years old, Beal can still be an effective player, but he’s never going to produce enough value to meet his contract. He’s still shooting the ball well this year — 39.2 percent from three-point range with league-average 57.6 percent true shooting — but he has less vertical pop attacking the basket than he used to, and he’ll always face questions defensively.

Phoenix doesn’t have much else to offer to sweeten the pot. They still have their first-round pick in 2031, and a pair of Denver second round picks in 2026 and 2031. Grayson Allen can be included as well, but he has three more seasons left on his deal averaging around $18 million annually.

Even if Beal would waive his no-trade clause, is any team actually willing to take on his contract?

It’s easy to believe reports of tension in the Phoenix locker room. You don’t mortgage the future for Kevin Durant just to be a middling team in the Western Conference. The Suns need a talent infusion at center with Nurkic in the middle of a disastrous season. They need to swap Beal for a player(s) that are less duplicative with Durant and Devin Booker. None of this can wait in the loaded Western Conference as 12 teams vie for eight playoff sports. Right now, the Suns have the worst record in the West of any team actually trying to win.

The Suns need to pull out a miracle before the trade deadline. Dealing Beal is the only real solution, but his market may be non-existent. As the losses pile up in Phoenix, the pressure will continue to build.