Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Suns’ Bradley Beal To Clippers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Los Angeles Clippers acquire Bradley Beal from the Phoenix Suns. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Clippers, Suns, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs:

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: SG Bradley Beal, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Phoenix Suns), 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings), 2028 second-round pick (via Chicago Bulls)

San Antonio Spurs Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, 2029 first-round pick (unprotected via Chicago Bulls)

Phoenix Suns Receive: SG Norman Powell, F/C Zach Collins, F/C P.J. Tucker

Chicago Bulls Receive: F Keldon Johnson, G/F Terance Mann, G Bones Hyland, SG Amir Coffey

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, who will make $50.2 million next season, 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 Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round in six games. 

“A new starting five of James Harden, Beal, Nic Batum, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac with Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Kobe Brown, Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba and others off the bench keeps the Clippers in the playoff hunt and fans packed into the brand new Intuit Dome every night,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “The Clippers are one of just four NBA teams without a single draft pick owed to them from another team, and are currently scheduled to pay out 11 future first-and-second round picks and swaps to other franchises.

“Los Angeles gets the best overall player in the trade in Beal, a future unprotected first-round pick from the Suns that will convey after Durant has almost certainly retired and a pair of seconds from the Bulls.”