The Suns will remove Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from their starting lineup, beginning with tonight’s game at Philadelphia, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link). Rookie Ryan Dunn and backup big man Mason Plumlee will take their spots.
The move comes amid a four-game losing streak that has seen Phoenix drop into the 12th spot in the Western Conference at 15-18. The veteran roster has been vastly underperforming since starting the season at 9-2.
The downturn has led to dissension behind the scenes, according to Haynes.
“There is also tension in that locker room,” he said. “I’m told certain players are unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they’re being used. The coaching staff, they’re still trying to figure things out.”
Beal, 31, is averaging 17.8 points per game in his second season in Phoenix, but his shooting numbers have declined from .513/.430/.813 last year to .480/.392/.760 through 23 games. He has missed time with various physical ailments and hasn’t turned into the dependable scorer the Suns were hoping when they acquired him in a trade with Washington during the summer of 2023.
It’s possible the demotion might make Beal more likely to waive his no-trade clause for a fresh start somewhere else. His $50.2MM salary could theoretically be useful in bringing Jimmy Butler to Phoenix if he’s willing to change teams again, but the Heat reportedly aren’t interested in taking on Beal’s contract, which will pay him $53.6MM next season with a $57.1MM player option for 2026/27.
Nurkic, 30, has started all 23 games he has played this season, but he’s averaging just 8.8 points per night — his lowest mark in eight years — along with 9.5 rebounds. He’s making $18.1MM and has one more year left on his contract at $19.4MM.
The Suns may prefer to part with both players before the February 6 trade deadline in hopes of creating a younger roster, but their options are limited because of second-apron restrictions. They can’t take back more salary than they send out or aggregate contracts in a potential deal.
These $50 million dollar salaries, for 1 year, are just stupid. Especially for 30+ year old players. After playing for years these guys have lots of injuries. How did things get so crazy?
The salary structure is just stupid. SGA makes 35 mil. this season, Luka 43 mil., while old and injury-prone guys out of their prime or at the end of their prime make 50-60 mil. It should be the other way around.
This isn’t some labor union where you make more money for more years of service. Teams are paying the old guys huge money and their contracts become untradable, especially under the new CBA.
Guys like Steph, LeBron and KD absolutely deserve these contracts. Teams simply have to be able to negotiate and say no to the players that dont deserve it…
Yes, they deserve the contracts, I agree. The point is that years of service makes no sense in a professional sports league, where you start to decline at some point. Why shouldn’t SGA or Luka get the same money as Steph, LeBron or KD? Why is the max for guys at the end of their primes or outside their primes higher than for young guys who can win MVPs?
The one-and-done philosophy of drafting is the problem. Guys aren’t ready when they come out of college. So, all the teams want stars that cost a lot.
Teams are paying for 1 year of prime and 2 years of non-prime production from these 30+ guys, it’s effectively a tax that you pay in the future. It does seem as though they’ve answered the question of “how much is too much?”
Exactly teams are choosing to overpay these older players. They need to make better decisions.
It needs to be in the CBA that after age 30 the max is declining again…
Doesn’t matter how much smarter they play the game, most players arent in their prime at age 32…
I don’t know, maybe don’t keep leaking stories about how you want to trade your two most unmovable contracts? There is no chance they can trade Nurkic or Beal, so why tick them off? Now they can not only ruin the play on the court but the chemistry in the locker room as well.
As noted elsewhere on this site, the Heat don’t want Bradley Beal because of his no-trade clause, and are looking to take back as little salary as possible beyond this year.
The Heat dont have that many options, very few teams WANT Butler and even fewer teams can trade for him. If the Heat doesnt trade him, they will be left empty handed.
Beal is making a lot of money true, but last season would be the last year of his contract and they can also trade him (I am sure they can work around the no trade clause). Its definitely better than nothing imo.
Agreed that they don’t have many options. I guess what we’ll soon find out is whether they would prefer to get nothing except their own 2025 pick (lottery protected, so they keep it if they don’t make the playoffs) and a bunch of salary cap room in the off-season, rather than get some albatross contract that will weigh them down for years, make the playoffs in a year in which there are 2 dominant teams in the East, etc.
Can Memphis aggregate? Smart, Clarke, Kennard and some sort of draft compensation over Beal.
Not knowing your role is the dumbest nothing statement a player could give. It is deflecting and blaming on the coaching staff for getting called out for losing. And their losing due to a lack of effort especially on the defensive end. Your role on defense is to try.
Suns are screwed. Owner Ishbia shoulda stuck to sub-prime mortgages. What a goof!
Subprime mortgages are the same thing. It’s a gamble, there’s lots of risk, and you’re overpaying for what you get.
I’m sure things will get better for the Suns fire the next coach. Next time will be different. 100%
So here’s the play by the front office to make Beal more amenable to waive his no trade clause.
Interesting…I dont think Beal is the problem, obviously his contract sucks but it is not like he is Tobias Harris in Philly.
Still I would pull the trigger on a Beal x Butler trade, Miami gets rid of their locker room drama and doesnt end up empty handed and the Suns get a final shot at maybe winning something. I think the Suns gotta go all in because imo if this season doesnt work they gotta blow it all up.
Sixers record last season with Harris 47-35.
Pistons record last season without Harris 17-65.
Sixers record without Harris this season 14-19
Pistons record with Harris this season 17-18
Just sayin’
Brabo, I’m not sure about that. Sounds like Bradley Beal is causing a little locker room drama in Phoenix?
His situation for the Suns is actually worse than Miami with Butler. Beal has next year and a player option for the year after at almost $60 million. If Jimmy, on the other hand walks away in three months, the Heat are done.
Harris isn’t a 1-dimensional player, also. Beal is a pure shot creator. He’s adjusted well to off-ball shooting, but he’s defensively inept and not a great passer to take full advantage of it. Harris can at least provide you defense, spacing, and a bit of ball-handling. There’s a lot of value in versatility, even if Beal is better on paper, his fit sucks in the extreme.
The Suns are absolutely screwed.
> The Suns are absolutely screwed.
yessir. Old and injured players on max contracts AND no draft capital for the next 5 years!
If Suns don’t believe their big 3 can compete, IMO the best decision is to trade KD *immediately* to a contending team willing to overpay with draft capital and youth. At 36 yrs old and often injured, KD’s trade value is falling fast.
Booker is the only 1 of their big 3 young enough to hold on to.
Still like my idea
Butler and Burks to Sixers
PG and Jackson to Suns
Beal and Morris to Heat
Embiid gets his mate back in Butler
Think it makes us a much better side because of his defence.
Suns are all in on winning now and are desperate on their losing streak so much so they are benching Beal. PG is a much better fit for them and Reggie would be a solid back up option.
Miami is probably getting the worst off of the deal so maybe flip them some picks aswell but Beals deal is only 1 year longer than Jimmys (2 years after this season) and he’s only 31 as opposed to Jimmy who is 35.
Suns should start Allen and find more toughness and defence down low.
These are overreactions
Grayson Allen and a hard nosed centre starting and that teams a contender
I actually thought Grayson Allen would start when we talked about the Suns in the off-season. I thought it was a pure no-brainer.
This is when you get a new owner who wants to make a splash tried to do a Miami but ended up with a NJ-BKN. Booker is the only player anyone would want. Durant will not hold up through a playoff run. It is sad Suns fans are great.