“It Would Be Difficult for the Suns to Trade Beal If They Lose to the Timberwolves in the First Round; He’s the Only Active Player with a No-Trade Clause”

By 739849140 Apr25,2024

In the second game of the first round of the playoffs held this Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns exhibited a notably poor performance on the offensive end. Despite the Suns ranking among the top ten in offensive capabilities during the regular season, they managed only 95 and 93 points respectively in the first two games of the series. The unfavorable 0-2 deficit has sparked discussions about how the Suns will address their roster during this offseason, specifically regarding Bradley Beal.

Beal was acquired by the Suns from the Washington Wizards last offseason, but he only averaged 18.2 points per game this season, marking his lowest scoring output since the 2015-16 season. It seems he has struggled to fit into the Suns’ offensive system centered around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Additionally, Beal has faced significant injury issues, missing 24 out of the first 30 games of this season. If the Suns were to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Beal is likely to be traded again during this year’s offseason.

However, one aspect to consider is that similar to the situation when he was traded by the Washington Wizards, Beal’s contract includes a trade veto clause, giving him considerable control over his trade destiny. Beal signed a highly scrutinized 5-year contract worth $251 million with the Wizards in 2022, making him the only active NBA player with a trade veto clause. Beal highly values this trade veto power, as reports suggest that he nearly joined the Miami Heat last offseason but refused to waive his trade veto clause when the Heat insisted on it as a condition for his trade. Consequently, he was ultimately sent to the Suns.

The Suns’ objective in trading for Beal last summer was clear: to win a championship. After purchasing the team in December 2022, owner Matt Ishbia immediately showcased his ambition to win a championship. Just a few months after acquiring the team, Ishbia spearheaded the trade for former MVP Kevin Durant, relinquishing multiple future first-round draft picks as well as young players like Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson.

However, this major trade did not lead to a championship for the Suns in 2023, primarily due to Durant’s injury, which limited him to just 8 regular-season games. Although Durant and Booker led the Suns to an easy 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, they faced the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the semifinals. Despite outstanding performances from Booker and Durant in the semifinals, the Suns lacked support from other players, with no one averaging more than 11 points per game. Consequently, the Suns were defeated 2-4.

Following that defeat, the Suns aimed to increase their chances of winning a championship by acquiring a superstar scorer averaging 30 points per game, leading to the acquisition of Beal from the Wizards. However, Beal’s severe injury issues and the lack of depth resulting from two major trades have left the Suns without a true point guard, potentially limiting their ceiling.

Nevertheless, even if the Suns were to lose to the Timberwolves in the first round, it would be challenging to deem the trade for Beal a failed decision. Beal was essentially acquired in exchange for Chris Paul, who has played only a few more games than Beal this season and is set to turn 39 next month. Ultimately, nothing is conclusive yet, as the Suns will host the Timberwolves in the upcoming third and fourth games, hoping for a bounce-back.

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