Beal addresses speculation as talk of possible Heat deal continues

On By Littum

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Phoenix Suns star guard Bradley Beal has been in this situation before.

That’s why this latest trade speculation swirling on social media doesn’t rattle him at all.

“Until one of them comes and says something to me or talks to me, it’s just out there,” Beal said after Friday’s practice. “I’m a Phoenix Sun and I’m here and I’m in the uniform. I don’t pay attention to that. They did that to me for 10 years.”

Beal returned in Thursday’s 120-111 loss to Indiana at the Footprint Center after missing two games with right knee swelling and scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 31 minutes. The Suns (14-12) wrap up a three-game homestand Saturday against the Detroit Pistons (11-17).

“I felt good, felt really good at the end of the game,” Beal said. “Moving really well. So I’m in a good place, I’m in a good place.”

As ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, the Suns were among the list of teams as possible trade destinations for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, Beal’s name immediately came to mind because of the similarities in their contracts.

Despite being above the other NBA tax apron, the Suns could trade Beal for Butler and a player on a veteran’s minimum contract, even though it brought more money back on the deal.

The key is to have a veteran minimum player in the deal. Any team can take a minimum salary player in the trade in what is called the minimum salary exception.

Butler is due $48.7 million this season, while Beal is due $50.2 million. So the Heat could throw in Josh Richardson, who is due $3,051,153 this season on a vet-minimum contract, and make the deal work.

However, Beal would have to accept the trade since he has a no-trade clause. He is in his second season in Phoenix after spending 11 years with the Washington Wizards, where he was a three-time All-Star. The Suns acquired Beal in an off-season trade in 2023 that involved Chris Paul.

Miami, which is above the first tax haven but below the second, would have to send more money out. Teams in this situation can still bundle (or combine) contracts to take a single contract as long as the team remains under the second tax shelter.

In this case, Miami would remain under the second tax apron. Plus the Suns have a roster spot open to add another player in a trade.

As a younger player, Beal said, he engaged in comments made about him on social media when asked how he handles hearing negativity, whether it’s about injuries or trade speculation.

Now at age 31, Beal is handling it differently.

“I used to be a Twitter head there all the time and see what people were saying,” Beal said. “Everybody wants an opinion about something. I think that kind of puts you in a negative headspace. I don’t pay attention to that. Everybody wants an opinion about something and nobody does damage control. Everybody wants their favorite player have to play with their next favorite player. It’s just noise, man. You just have to go do your job.”

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer applauded how Beal has handled the injuries. Beal has played in just 16 games this season and has been sidelined with an elbow sprain, calf strain and swollen knees.

“There’s been a real level of frustration with him,” Budenholzer said. “It just feels like some bad luck with a little bit of this, but I think he likes to flip, whether it’s frustration or bad luck or whatever, and then go into the weight room and put in his time. the training staff, being there with his teammates, his energy I think has been good, has been helpful.”

Beal is averaging 17.7 points on 50% shooting this season.

“And his head and mind and heart have been in a good place,” Budenholzer continued. “It’s not easy when you can’t play and I think he handled it well.”

Do you have opinions about the current state of the sun? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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