Suns Discussing Trading 2031 First-Round Pick In Deal For Jimmy Butler

[RealGM Wiretap]

After moving several draft picks in deals, the Phoenix Suns are down to just two tradable draft picks. Phoenix can trade their 2031 first-round pick. The Suns also acquired a 2025 second-round pick in their trade for Nick Richards. That pick is highly likely to come from the Denver Nuggets.

Phoenix has been discussing moving that 2031 first-round pick in deals that would see them acquire Jimmy Butler. It's been well-reported that Butler's preferred destination is Phoenix. It's also well-known that to acquire Butler, the Suns would have to find a team willing to trade for Bradley Beal. And, because of his no-trade clause, Beal would need to approve the deal too.

At this point, it's likely the Suns would need to use that 2031 first-round selection to entice a team to take on the $160.9 million owed to Beal through 2026-27.

If Phoenix were to trade their 2031 first-round pick, they would not have control of a single one of their picks for the next seven drafts. Phoenix has traded all of their own first, or given up swap rights, as well as having traded all of their own second-round selections.

Via Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[Melwing]

Such convoluted nonsense, the draft system is a joke.

[TheCage4]

[BigGargamel]

Might as well. They're in too deep to swim out now. Dive all the way in head first.

[Anthoine]

Correct me if I’m wrong. Beal seems like he could be a good fit in Detroit.

[MiamiSun]

Detroit is a good fit as well as Milwaukee.

[Econgrad]

Who wants to buy a 1st round pick 6 years from now for $160M owed to a washed up Beal?

[SkyBill40]

Trading that pick is going to be a mistake. We need to hold onto it.

[Billl]

Including a first with Beal isn't even neutral value.

[soxperry]

First, Beal not only has to waive his trade clause to be traded, but teams will not want to trade for him unless he eliminates it from his contract (so they can move him later in the way that they choose).

He has zero reason to want to do that. How do you make him want to do that?

Second, just to get a team to take on 3 years at 50M+, you would need to send out at LEAST two 1st round picks worth of value, if not three. That's the only reason that any team would want to trade for him.

Backup a step: How good is Beal right now? He has a NEGATIVE LEBRON rating. NEGATIVE, for 50M per year.

Bro (Suns fans), *puts hand on shoulder*, you are not getting Jimmy Butler.

[GoSixersBro]

In the Playoffs Jimmy needs to be #1 on all 30 teams in this league. Relegating him to second or third banana doesn't fill any of Phoenix's needs to get them to the next level. This is another short-sighted panic move where instead the Suns should be focusing on rebounding and defense.

[puja21]

Who wants to buy a 1st round pick 6 years from now for $160M owed to a washed up Beal?

other than availability (missed 35% of games since the super max) , he's been OK

Since getting the bag:
Fantastic shooting .505/.398/.824 (on 15.4/4.6/3.3 for attempts)
Per game averages of 20 pts 4.1 reb 4.8 ast 1 stl 2.6 TOV 2.3 pf

In the 3 years before the deal (age 26-28):
Worse shooting .466/.341/.860 on 22/6.8/7.1 atts
Per game avg of 29 pts 4.5 reb 5.6 ast 1.1 stl 3.3 tov 2.3 pf

Doesn't get to the line much (bad sign) but his efficiency is up

That said, it's clear zero teams want him with the remaining cash owed.

[Pickled Prunes]

Who wants to buy a 1st round pick 6 years from now for $160M owed to a washed up Beal?

other than availability (missed 35% of games since the super max) , he's been OK

Since getting the bag:
Fantastic shooting .505/.398/.824 (on 15.4/4.6/3.3 for attempts)
Per game averages of 20 pts 4.1 reb 4.8 ast 1 stl 2.6 TOV 2.3 pf

In the 3 years before the deal (age 26-28):
Worse shooting .466/.341/.860 on 22/6.8/7.1 atts
Per game avg of 29 pts 4.5 reb 5.6 ast 1.1 stl 3.3 tov 2.3 pf

Doesn't get to the line much (bad sign) but his efficiency is up

That said, it's clear zero teams want him with the remaining cash owed.

If he'll waive his no-trade permanently, I think they should do it. Not because he's worth his contract, but because MIA needs this drama to end. They also need this year's pick to convey.

If they could get Beal to agree to go to BRK...
Beal to BRK
Jimmy to PHX
Cam Thomas and Claxton to MIA

PHX and MIA each send BRK a 1st and a 2nd

[puja21]

Who wants to buy a 1st round pick 6 years from now for $160M owed to a washed up Beal?

other than availability (missed 35% of games since the super max) , he's been OK

Since getting the bag:
Fantastic shooting .505/.398/.824 (on 15.4/4.6/3.3 for attempts)
Per game averages of 20 pts 4.1 reb 4.8 ast 1 stl 2.6 TOV 2.3 pf

In the 3 years before the deal (age 26-28):
Worse shooting .466/.341/.860 on 22/6.8/7.1 atts
Per game avg of 29 pts 4.5 reb 5.6 ast 1.1 stl 3.3 tov 2.3 pf

Doesn't get to the line much (bad sign) but his efficiency is up

That said, it's clear zero teams want him with the remaining cash owed.

If he'll waive his no-trade permanently, I think they should do it. Not because he's worth his contract, but because MIA needs this drama to end. They also need this year's pick to convey.

If they could get Beal to agree to go to BRK...
Beal to BRK
Jimmy to PHX
Cam Thomas and Claxton to MIA

PHX and MIA each send BRK a 1st and a 2nd

It's unheard of but I think I would even pay butler to go home for the season before i took on 110M for a 6'3 guard who doesn't defend & misses a lot of games -- try and trade him again in July if he opts in.

Plus, lots of trade ideas like yours are out there -- they all feel better than Beal to me if I am Riley

[Pickled Prunes]

other than availability (missed 35% of games since the super max) , he's been OK

Since getting the bag:
Fantastic shooting .505/.398/.824 (on 15.4/4.6/3.3 for attempts)
Per game averages of 20 pts 4.1 reb 4.8 ast 1 stl 2.6 TOV 2.3 pf

In the 3 years before the deal (age 26-28):
Worse shooting .466/.341/.860 on 22/6.8/7.1 atts
Per game avg of 29 pts 4.5 reb 5.6 ast 1.1 stl 3.3 tov 2.3 pf

Doesn't get to the line much (bad sign) but his efficiency is up

That said, it's clear zero teams want him with the remaining cash owed.

If he'll waive his no-trade permanently, I think they should do it. Not because he's worth his contract, but because MIA needs this drama to end. They also need this year's pick to convey.

If they could get Beal to agree to go to BRK...
Beal to BRK
Jimmy to PHX
Cam Thomas and Claxton to MIA

PHX and MIA each send BRK a 1st and a 2nd

It's unheard of but I think I would even pay butler to go home for the season before i took on 110M for a 6'3 guard who doesn't defend & misses a lot of games -- try and trade him again in July if he opts in.

Plus, lots of trade ideas like yours are out there -- they all feel better than Beal to me if I am Riley

They can also require him to show up and keep suspending him for acting a fool.

We've talked a lot about Beal so I'm surprised at your take. Beal is overpaid, but he's better than what we've seen in PHX. I would guess he'd be dramatically better under Spo; maybe better than he's ever been. (In efficiency and as a team player, not in PPG.) Do you really believe Riley would rather pay Jimmy to sit at home for two years than take on Beal for three years? I don't see that.

Beal is owed about $60m more than Jimmy. If Beal is giving you three years of service and Jimmy is giving you zero, than it is costing you $20m per year to have Beal instead of nothing.

I do agree that there are potentially better trades out there for MIA, but multi-team deals are tough.

If MIA removes their protections on their '25 and '27 picks they can send Jimmy straight to BRK along with two firsts for CamJ and Claxton. BRK would be happy to sit Jimmy at home while they tank. They can look for a new home for him later but I think they'll still be tanking when his contract expires.

[puja21]

They can also require him to show up and keep suspending him for acting a fool.

Sure but at some point I imagine Butler will adapt his protest techniques such that the union can dispute and mediate any suspensions but he's still damaging the team morale

Do you really believe Riley would rather pay Jimmy to sit at home for two years than take on Beal for three years? I don't see that.

No, that's why I specifically said "go home for the season"
If he picks up the option in June, then you resume attempting to trade him in July as an expiring contract.

Beal is owed about $60m more than Jimmy. If Beal is giving you three years of service and Jimmy is giving you zero, than it is costing you $20m per year to have Beal instead of nothing.

It's not about the money. It's about the years. a 50M option for butler is tradeable in summer 2025. Beal still has TWO 50M+ seasons left at that point.

I do agree that there are potentially better trades out there for MIA, but multi-team deals are tough.

If MIA removes their protections on their '25 and '27 picks they can send Jimmy straight to BRK along with two firsts for CamJ and Claxton. BRK would be happy to sit Jimmy at home while they tank. They can look for a new home for him later but I think they'll still be tanking when his contract expires.

There are many better rumors IMO (than Beal to Miami). I've seen others involve teams removing protections too. One had the Knicks dumping protections on a pick to get out of Mitchell Robinson as a cog in the trade.

[Pickled Prunes]

They can also require him to show up and keep suspending him for acting a fool.

Sure but at some point I imagine Butler will adapt his protest techniques such that the union can dispute and mediate any suspensions but he's still damaging the team morale

Do you really believe Riley would rather pay Jimmy to sit at home for two years than take on Beal for three years? I don't see that.

No, that's why I specifically said "go home for the season"
If he picks up the option in June, then you resume attempting to trade him in July as an expiring contract.

Beal is owed about $60m more than Jimmy. If Beal is giving you three years of service and Jimmy is giving you zero, than it is costing you $20m per year to have Beal instead of nothing.

It's not about the money. It's about the years. a 50M option for butler is tradeable in summer 2025. Beal still has TWO 50M+ seasons left at that point.

I do agree that there are potentially better trades out there for MIA, but multi-team deals are tough.

If MIA removes their protections on their '25 and '27 picks they can send Jimmy straight to BRK along with two firsts for CamJ and Claxton. BRK would be happy to sit Jimmy at home while they tank. They can look for a new home for him later but I think they'll still be tanking when his contract expires.

There are many better rumors IMO (than Beal to Miami). I've seen others involve teams removing protections too. One had the Knicks dumping protections on a pick to get out of Mitchell Robinson as a cog in the trade.

At some point the NBAPA will have a hard defending a player that has openly said they will make things difficult. It's breach of contract. He could pull the Simmons "Mental Health" card, but seeing what has become of Simmons' career, he appears to still be dealing with some mental health issues. No, I don't see a way for Jimmy to make things difficult while honoring his contract. The suspensions will keep coming.

$50m is a huge expiring contract. You have to find the team that: 1) Want's $50m in expiring money. 2) Want's to deal with Jimmy for a year. 3) Has $50 in salary that they don't want but MIA does. Those are tall orders, and a lot to hope for if you pass up taking advantage of PHX in their moment of weakness!

It is about both money and years. If Jimmy is traded as an expiring contract than he will be traded in protest. It would be much easier to trade him as an asset than an expiring deal, but Jimmy is making that tough. He wants that next deal, which is what all of this is all about. His antics will continue. If he is traded as an asset, than his expected contract is longer than Beal's. And he's already four years older than Beal and misses about the same number of games every year.

I think you are right about Beal not landing MIA. All I was was saying is, If I were Riley and it came down to: Keep Jimmy or take Beal+ three 1sts and a 2nd... I'm driving Jimmy to the airport. Particularly if Beal permanently drops his NTC.

[puja21]

No, I don't see a way for Jimmy to make things difficult while honoring his contract. The suspensions will keep coming.

This is naive IMO

RE: Simmons, the Sixers themselves released conflicting statements to different reporters (Pompey vs Athletic) on when they stopped/started checks to Simmons. And in the end he cried back pain and they settled. So he won. Same the players have been for ~15 years.

There are plenty of ways to easily poison the well without violating the CBA. Jimmy's smart enough to do it -- if he's up to that level of malice.

Skipping the team plane is of course suspension-worthy -- and frankly it doesn't "hurt" much of anything for Miami.

But it's already been litigated that they can't financially punish players for on-court performance.

Butler just has to be available. They can bench him of course or even send him home if his play is poor -- missing assignments, passes, effort is low etc... and I'd love to see them do it (esp as a Boston fan. Nuke it!)

But I just can't imagine Spo wanting a guy who will take a dive around his "Culture", even if he's not on the floor playing minutes.

[puja21]

$50m is a huge expiring contract. You have to find the team that: 1) Want's $50m in expiring money. 2) Want's to deal with Jimmy for a year. 3) Has $50 in salary that they don't want but MIA does. Those are tall orders, and a lot to hope for if you pass up taking advantage of PHX in their moment of weakness!

If Bernie Lee already finds there is no extension out there, then Jimmy's going to want to play it out for a contender and prove his worth, right?

IMO, any team looking to make a playoff upgrade (Golden State) will make the deal work when they don't have to give him an extension

[Pickled Prunes]

No, I don't see a way for Jimmy to make things difficult while honoring his contract. The suspensions will keep coming.

This is naive IMO

RE: Simmons, the Sixers themselves released conflicting statements to different reporters (Pompey vs Athletic) on when they stopped/started checks to Simmons. And in the end he cried back pain and they settled. So he won. Same the players have been for ~15 years.

There are plenty of ways to easily poison the well without violating the CBA. Jimmy's smart enough to do it -- if he's up to that level of malice.

Skipping the team plane is of course suspension-worthy -- and frankly it doesn't "hurt" much of anything for Miami.

But it's already been litigated that they can't financially punish players for on-court performance.

Butler just has to be available. They can bench him of course or even send him home if his play is poor -- missing assignments, passes, effort is low etc... and I'd love to see them do it (esp as a Boston fan. Nuke it!)

But I just can't imagine Spo wanting a guy who will take a dive around his "Culture", even if he's not on the floor playing minutes.

Here's the thing... the players will get away with it until they don't. At some point a player is going to be held up to the standard that a $50m contract warrants. Some player will be the first to lose at this game. Riley should keep expecting him to come to work and suspending for every infraction. In the meantime, if he really tries to sabotage his team while he's on the floor, his teammates should take him out back and beat the snot out of him. And lest we forget, the Players Association also represents the 16 teammates that are getting screwed by Jimmy's behavior.

I'm not naive, I just think Riley is stubborn enough to go the distance.