Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Suns’ Bradley Beal To Spurs

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t be traded unless he requests a trade or approves a deal. Beal and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James are the only players in the NBA with a no-trade clause. 

The Suns acquired Beal from the Washington Wizards last offseason. Beal averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in his first season with Phoenix while shooting 51.3% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 81.3% from the free-throw line.

Beal will make $50.2 million next season. Most NBA execs believe he has the worst contract in the league, but that didn’t stop Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed a blockbuster trade idea between the Suns and San Antonio Spurs:

San Antonio Spurs receive: Bradley Beal, 2026 second-round pick (via DEN) and two 2031 second-round picks (via DEN and PHO)

Phoenix Suns receive: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie

“Finding a team that can simply afford Beal at this point is tricky,” Buckley wrote. “Finding someone who might actually want him around is even harder. Might the Spurs be one of the few exceptions, though? They wouldn’t be parting with anyone of real consequence to nab a three-time All-Star who once averaged 30-plus points in back-to-back seasons. Moreover, they’d get a clear view of what having a high-end perimeter shot-creator might mean for Victor Wembanyama, potentially helping to shape their long-term blueprint.”

Beal has career averages of 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks. He has made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team. 

The Suns lost in the first round of the 2024 playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves in four games, while the Spurs missed the postseason. 

“The Suns, meanwhile, might pounce on any Beal deal they could find, but they’d be getting more than scraps from San Antonio,” Buckley wrote. “Barnes is a solid, three-and-D support piece, Johnson is an ignitable scorer, and Champagnie is building a three-and-D base.”