MIA—PHX—UTA

[SkyHook]

Setting aside whether Beal would permit the trade. He's the hardest sell, followed by Utah (imo).

MIA
Out: Butler
In: Collins, Sexton, 2025 FRP (CLE)

Why? Two players who can help the Heat continue to compete, both contracts expire prior to Miami's critical offseason in 2026. Small, immediate draft asset.

PHX
Out: Beal, Dunn, 2031 FRP (PHX, unprotected), 2026 SRP (DEN), 2031 SRP (DEN), 2031 SRP (PHX)
In: Butler

Why? Ishbia makes his "win-now" move. (No aggregation required as, for the Suns, the Dunn portion can be logged as a separate transaction.)


UTA
Out: Collins, Sexton, 2025 FRP (CLE)
In: Beal, Dunn, 2031 FRP (PHX, unprotected), 2026 SRP (DEN), 2031 SRP (DEN), 2031 SRP (PHX)

Why? With rumblings of at least one more "developmental" season planned for the Jazz, they sacrifice multi-year cap flexibility for a young player who has shown glimmers of promise along with one premium future draft asset plus three minor ones. (Ainge could even offer to let Beal "rehab" for the rest of this season off with the promise to pursue a trade to an "acceptable" location in the offseason.)

[BBallFreak]

I'm not sure it's legal because Phoenix can't aggregate salaries, not I LOVE this trade, as would the majority of the Heat board. They have lusted after both these players.

I still have my doubts how much Spo would use Collins not I feel like that's worth doing.

[SkyHook]

I'm not sure it's legal because Phoenix can't aggregate salaries, not I LOVE this trade, as would the majority of the Heat board. They have lusted after both these players.

I still have my doubts how much Spo would use Collins not I feel like that's worth doing.

I mentioned that it can work without aggregation—the Dunn part can be recorded separately.

[BBallFreak]

Well, I'm a fan. Doubt Utah will go for it, but I love it. Hell, of it helps, send Utah the Denver first, too

[SideSwipe]

That's not a tenable offer for PHX. It is not a legal trade on the front of it as mentioned and beyond that count me in the camp that thinks that is too much to pay for Butler on his own.

[hcsilla]

Remove Dunn.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Remove Dunn.

This! X 100000000
Dunn is not available in any trades. He's becoming a key core piece. And is also becoming the heart and soul energizer for our team. We're not including him in any trades. Especially not to move off of Beal.

If it costs Dunn as an inclusionary piece, then we'll just hold onto Beal and keep him coming off the bench. It's been working pretty well so far. And I'm not disillusioned to believe that we're actually contenders or a serious playoff team. Dunn will be a key piece for us going forward.

[drchaos]

If no one wants Beal is there any way a trade involving Butler for KD makes any sense?

I am guessing that Miami would be the one to throw in a first round pick or some amount of draft capital.

Miami would be getting something it wants while Jimmy would get to play in Phoenix.

[babyjax13]

The Suns will not get Butler without trading Dunn. You might not think the Suns should do that, but a 2031 1st and some seconds to turn Beal into Butler just isn't happening.

[Ghost of Kleine]

If no one wants Beal is there any way a trade involving Butler for KD makes any sense?

I am guessing that Miami would be the one to throw in a first round pick or some amount of draft capital.

Miami would be getting something it wants while Jimmy would get to play in Phoenix.

Maybe if we're blowing it up and we get back Rozier, Robinson/ Jacquez/Jovic/ 3 firsts? But aside from that, I'm not sure I see anything. FWIW, KD, and Butler want to play together. So if we can't land Butler in a trade (and I personally don't care if we don't) then it's somewhat likely that KD might not extend, and would ask for a trade.

[jbk1234]

Beal isn't going to agree to go to Utah.

[Mr Puddles]

Definitely not trading Dunn for the privilege of overpaying for a Jimmy Butler contract extention a year from now.

Keep Beal as a 6th man scorer and use the picks plus a tradable contract to get an upgrade at the center would be a better use of assets. Adding Butler doesn't solve the Suns' main problems and puts them in a worse situation long term.

[drchaos]

If no one wants Beal is there any way a trade involving Butler for KD makes any sense?

I am guessing that Miami would be the one to throw in a first round pick or some amount of draft capital.

Miami would be getting something it wants while Jimmy would get to play in Phoenix.

Maybe if we're blowing it up and we get back Rozier, Robinson/ Jacquez/Jovic/ 3 firsts? But aside from that, I'm not sure I see anything. FWIW, KD, and Butler want to play together. So if we can't land Butler in a trade (and I personally don't care if we don't) then it's somewhat likely that KD might not extend, and would ask for a trade.

I think that Phoenix should blow it up now in hopes that they don't lose Booker at some point.

I understand that Jimmy wants to play with KD and Beal but I am thinking that if it can not happen Jimmy might enjoy playing with Booker and Beal in Phoenix where the owner will give him the huge contract he wants at the end of the season.

Miami get KD instead of losing Jimmy for nothing at the end of the year.

If the Suns are unable to combine contracts I do not know how they could get all of those players.

Jimmy plus draft picks is not a bad outcome for the Suns.

Without those draft picks I do not understand how the Suns can ever get rid of Beal.

[Ghost of Kleine]

If no one wants Beal is there any way a trade involving Butler for KD makes any sense?

I am guessing that Miami would be the one to throw in a first round pick or some amount of draft capital.

Miami would be getting something it wants while Jimmy would get to play in Phoenix.

Maybe if we're blowing it up and we get back Rozier, Robinson/ Jacquez/Jovic/ 3 firsts? But aside from that, I'm not sure I see anything. FWIW, KD, and Butler want to play together. So if we can't land Butler in a trade (and I personally don't care if we don't) then it's somewhat likely that KD might not extend, and would ask for a trade.

I think that Phoenix should blow it up now in hopes that they don't lose Booker at some point.

I understand that Jimmy wants to play with KD and Beal but I am thinking that if it can not happen Jimmy might enjoy playing with Booker and Beal in Phoenix where the owner will give him the huge contract he wants at the end of the season.

Miami get KD instead of losing Jimmy for nothing at the end of the year.

If the Suns are unable to combine contracts I do not know how they could get all of those players.

Jimmy plus draft picks is not a bad outcome for the Suns.

Without those draft picks I do not understand how the Suns can ever get rid of Beal.

True!
By the way, any relation to professor Chaos??

LOL.....J/k of course.

[drchaos]

True!
By the way, any relation to professor Chaos??

LOL.....J/k of course.

Only if you are related to General Disarray.

[Ghost of Kleine]

The Suns will not get Butler without trading Dunn. You might not think the Suns should do that, but a 2031 1st and some seconds to turn Beal into Butler just isn't happening.

Then the Suns don't need Butler. Swapping out Beal for Butler doesn't make us contenders and honestly might only make us marginally better at this stage because we simply have numerous legitimate issues that he alone wouldn't fix. And giving up both our 31' 1st and Dunn who's becoming the heart and soul energizer of this team for a marginal improvement while also giving out the last of our assets would be idiotic and asinine. At this cost, we're much better served to just hold onto Beal and keep him coming off the bench as our super 6th man, while keeping the last assets we have left to use to address our center position.

The premise around the necessity for trading Beal was predicated upon the struggles we had with him starting and how it imbalanced our roster. But so far, having him come off the bench is clearly working. And our starters are beginning to regain form. Therefore there's no real necessity to trade him now. Butler only wants to come here to get his last big payday. KD only wants him because they are friends and want to play together regardless of the potentially detrimental outcome it would most likely create by paying that much to two aging stars in their late 30s. It would be gross negligence at this point. Butler can go anywhere else and we'd be better for it long term.

[Ghost of Kleine]

True!
By the way, any relation to professor Chaos??

LOL.....J/k of course.

Only if you are related to General Disarray.

[jbk1234]

The Suns will not get Butler without trading Dunn. You might not think the Suns should do that, but a 2031 1st and some seconds to turn Beal into Butler just isn't happening.

Then the Suns don't need Butler. Swapping out Beal for Butler doesn't make us contenders and honestly might only make us marginally better at this stage because we simply have numerous legitimate issues that he alone wouldn't fix. And giving up both our 31' 1st and Dunn who's becoming the heart and soul energizer of this team for a marginal improvement while also giving out the last of our assets would be idiotic and asinine. At this cost, we're much better served to just hold onto Beal and keep him coming off the bench as our super 6th man, while keeping the last assets we have left to use to address our center position.

The premise around the necessity for trading Beal was predicated upon the struggles we had with him starting and how it imbalanced our roster. But so far, having him come off the bench is clearly working. And our starters are beginning to regain form. Therefore there's no real necessity to trade him now. Butler only wants to come here to get his last big payday. KD only wants him because they are friends and want to play together regardless of the potentially detrimental outcome it would most likely create by paying that much to two aging stars in their late 30s. It would be gross negligence at this point. Butler can go anywhere else and we'd be better for it long term.

I kind of agree with you, at least in as much as a Nurkic/ Plumlee center rotation is still a real problem for the Suns even if they manage to put this entire thing together. If they deplete their assets getting Butler, they don't really have any means of addressing it.

Now maybe you can adopt a drop-coverage scheme, mix in a zone now and again, but that's going to require all of Durant, Booker, and Butler consistently working hard on defense. Durant is going to have to play PF defensively. Booker can't die on screens. You probably need to bring Jones off the bench and start Okogie.

The Suns are certainly pot committed already, but the idea that you'll have to guarantee an additional $120M to Butler when he'll be 37-38, and before you've even had a chance to see if it will work, seems too risky.

[babyjax13]

The Suns will not get Butler without trading Dunn. You might not think the Suns should do that, but a 2031 1st and some seconds to turn Beal into Butler just isn't happening.

Then the Suns don't need Butler. Swapping out Beal for Butler doesn't make us contenders and honestly might only make us marginally better at this stage because we simply have numerous legitimate issues that he alone wouldn't fix. And giving up both our 31' 1st and Dunn who's becoming the heart and soul energizer of this team for a marginal improvement while also giving out the last of our assets would be idiotic and asinine. At this cost, we're much better served to just hold onto Beal and keep him coming off the bench as our super 6th man, while keeping the last assets we have left to use to address our center position.

The premise around the necessity for trading Beal was predicated upon the struggles we had with him starting and how it imbalanced our roster. But so far, having him come off the bench is clearly working. And our starters are beginning to regain form. Therefore there's no real necessity to trade him now. Butler only wants to come here to get his last big payday. KD only wants him because they are friends and want to play together regardless of the potentially detrimental outcome it would most likely create by paying that much to two aging stars in their late 30s. It would be gross negligence at this point. Butler can go anywhere else and we'd be better for it long term.

Either the Suns are serious about Butler or they are not. If they are serious about him I really doubt you'll like the package it requires. Phoenix has to offset the worst contract in the league + add value enough to get Miami to bite.

[SkyHook]

The Suns will not get Butler without trading Dunn. You might not think the Suns should do that, but a 2031 1st and some seconds to turn Beal into Butler just isn't happening.

Then the Suns don't need Butler. Swapping out Beal for Butler doesn't make us contenders and honestly might only make us marginally better at this stage because we simply have numerous legitimate issues that he alone wouldn't fix. And giving up both our 31' 1st and Dunn who's becoming the heart and soul energizer of this team for a marginal improvement while also giving out the last of our assets would be idiotic and asinine. At this cost, we're much better served to just hold onto Beal and keep him coming off the bench as our super 6th man, while keeping the last assets we have left to use to address our center position.

The premise around the necessity for trading Beal was predicated upon the struggles we had with him starting and how it imbalanced our roster. But so far, having him come off the bench is clearly working. And our starters are beginning to regain form. Therefore there's no real necessity to trade him now. Butler only wants to come here to get his last big payday. KD only wants him because they are friends and want to play together regardless of the potentially detrimental outcome it would most likely create by paying that much to two aging stars in their late 30s. It would be gross negligence at this point. Butler can go anywhere else and we'd be better for it long term.

I suppose the core question is, "Does Ishbia agree with you?" The core underlying premise of my original post is that he's an impatient, moronic nepobaby.

I certainly don't think that the Suns reported interest in Butler is rational.