There have been reports that it would take a contending team in a warm-weather city for Bradley Beal to consider waiving his no-trade clause, but there’s another reason he prefers to remain in Phoenix, according to Fred Katz, Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
A source familiar with Beal’s thinking tells the authors that he doesn’t want to uproot his family again less than two years after being traded to the Suns. Since that deal was made, the family moved from Washington to Los Angeles before finding a home in Phoenix. Another trade would either mean moving again or playing out the rest of the season away from his wife and their two children.
The source informs Katz, Amick and Nehm that Beal would approve a trade to a handful of cities, but the list is short. His priority is being with a contender, and although he doesn’t like the cold, he’s willing to accept it to get to the right situation.
The authors cite a report from last week that Beal wouldn’t be willing to accept a trade to the Bulls, who offer both cold weather and a remote chance to reach the playoffs. As they point out, that’s the dilemma for the Suns, who are hoping to find a taker for Beal’s contract so they can complete a trade for Jimmy Butler. Any team willing to pay Beal more than $110MM over the next two seasons is likely to be in the midst of rebuilding.
Katz, Amick and Nehm add that Beal would be interested in going to Miami, but the Heat don’t want him because of his salary, the multiple years left on his deal, and his no-trade clause. Once Butler is gone, Miami will be focused on creating cap room for a stellar free agent class in 2026.
The Suns are still considered to be the most aggressive suitor for Butler, but Beal’s situation may be too difficult to solve by Thursday’s trade deadline.
Beal and Durant to the Lakers for Luka and someone
Perfectly understandable from a personal point of view.
However quite stupid to take on such a big contract with a no-trade-clause.
I guess Phoenix will be stuck with Beal for a while, since they don’t have enough picks.
It might take combining Durant and Beal to have some extra picks from a third team, but that’s not really what Phoenix wants I guess. But we never thought Doncic would get traded, so is Durant really off limits?
I agree. Many fans get mad when players refuse to waive their no trade clause, but what’s the point of a no trade clause if the player isn’t going to utilize it to prevent himself from being put in undesirable situations? They negotiated it and the team willing took on the player with that protection. Their ire should be directed at the team.
I don’t think KD is moving, however, unless he asks out. This Luka trade was massive and I don’t expect it is going to create a domino effect of superstars being dealt or suddenly shift the league from player-centric to team-centric. I think it was one insane trade that happens once a decade (if that) and we should take it as such until proven otherwise.
@Wan
This isn’t a salary dump. The only reason why they want to move Beal is because they want to improve the team but don’t have any salary cap space and can only bring in an impact player via trade with Beal, as the third option but one of the most expensive, makes the most sense.
I think next year he will make enough below his max allowed salary that they could at least offer him something to move.
Couldn’t the owner just offer to pay for a furnished apartment for rest of the season for Beal wherever he lands?
If I’m trying to unload Beal I’d definitely offer to pay for an apartment for him and his family in whatever city he winds up in just to get it over with honestly. That way he can take his family with him and not be away from them.
He can afford the apartment that’s not the issue he wants to be with his family and not move them again.
Dude doesn’t wanna go from a home that’s probably wonderful to an apartment, moving your family is incredibly stressful even if it’s 5 miles away, Beal seems like a good human who puts his family first, Phoenix should get used to him
Especially since Durant and Booker pushed for him.
@Bring
you think he can’t afford a place to live?? he doesn’t want to uproot his family and do so to go someplace he doesn’t like and won’t compete. He’s close to retirement age
This makes sense, he was reluctant to leave Washington in the first place because he didn’t want to uproot his family. That’s why he pushed a for a no trade clause.
He left only after media pressure and conversations with the front office telling him that he wasn’t part of their future plans.
Different people have different motivations and it’s not always about winning. The media and fans always portray it being about greed and money but sometimes it’s family.
Apparently his wife’s family is from somewhere in the southwest as well. I think its SoCal but I am not 100% certain on that part.
I am also totally here for him blocking Butler getting what he wants.
This is why I don’t understand why players have wives and kids while being a professional athlete. It limits you, especially at the peak of their athletic primes. Why not devote the short time period of your athletic years to your career and then do the family thing in your late thirties/forties?
Yes, because that’s exactly what someone who is in love with you wants to hear. “Sorry babe, can’t stick around, got balls to play with.”
@cress
Because they don’t want to wait until their 40 to have a family? because they fall in love??
Limits you?
At no point during these talks of Beal have I heard about him trying to get traded to a better situation for him on the court.
He’s been treated like a dirty dishrag that you’re trying to get rid of and replace with a nicer one.
The second people are focused on Beal’s opportunities I’ll believe he is limited. He has been loyal and played his best – and fwiw – he’s probably better on the court than Butler, and definitely better in the locker room than Butler, but Phoenix is a messed up franchise.
Phoenix has been 100% focused on change, change, change. And they’ve traded so much and gone through 3 coaches in 3 years. This has lead to a team that has never been able to get any Chemistry – and the results on the court – IMO – are 100% due to the approach Phoenix is taking.
They are better off sticking with their team, developing them, building chemistry and figuring out how to win instead of just plugging pieces in here, there and everywhere, like it’s a puzzle where they just need different pieces.
People playing together for long periods of time create value that is meaningful.
I do NOT think Beal is limited.
If anything, the Suns are limiting themselves.
…and fwiw – a family – IMO – is way, way more important than a career – and the long-term value is much higher.
Because they are humans?
Beal is not changing teams. Till he’s an expiring contract, maybe. And that’s not till 2026-27.
Beal is owed 53.1 mill next yr. And 57.1 mill for 2026-27. Who’s paying him that …..
It all comes down the Suns owner trying to make a big splash bought a lemon in Beal. The player is only a shadow of what he was, body breaking down misses at least 1 out of every three games. The Suns are just mediocre, they have 3-star players and cannot dominate. Now with the contracts and salary restraints, questionable draft picks to use. Beal is not going anywhere, he likes the Phoenix area, his contract is very strong. The Suns ownership is stuck, went to much with the glamour instead of solid player acquisitions, Durrant 36, on his closing out of a good career, Beal almost in the same boat, now they want Jimmy Butler at 35 what are the Phoenix Suns the over the hill franchise where players on their last legs come to live their one last shot before they are done. Who is next Lebron at 42 yrs old, might as well bring him in.
The Phoenix Snowbirds lol
Washington was dumb enough to give Beal the big contract AND the no-trade clause. Phoenix was dumb enough to trade for him despite the big contract and no-trade clause. Is there a third team dumb enough to want Beal? I doubt it. Beal wanting to exercise his no-trade clause and not move his family is not the problem. Teams dumb enough to give that contract and no-trade clause are the problem.
Totally agree!
So at what point do they just trade Booker and Durant, get their picks back somehow, tank and tell Beal to sit at home.
Ishbia doesn’t seem like the type to acknowledge his own failings does he? Not saying you are wrong in thinking they should do it. Just that I doubt his ego will allow it.
Or just pivot? I mean, they could trade KD and/or Booker for picks and put themselves in a much better position to win with Beal/despite Beal.
This is likely not going to be a problem. Has a single team (contender or non-contender, warm or cold weather, etc.) indicated a willingness to discuss taking him-??. The team most motivated to kick the tires on it (MIA, since they may not be able to move Butler without doing so) has taken it off the table. Teams are openly expressing a desire to facilitate a Butler deal, but NOT to take Beal in the process.
This is on the Suns being delusional and ignoring that the ONLY way they are going to improve their roster is by trading Booker, not Beal.