Suns Want Jimmy Butler 'Bad'

[RealGM Wiretap]

It's not a secret that Jimmy Butler would like to be traded to the Phoenix Suns. That desire seems to be mutual from the Suns side as well.

One league source was quoted by The Stein Line as saying about Phoenix and Butler that "they want him bad".

The major obstacle in a Butler to Phoenix trade remains finding a team willing to take on Bradley Beal, as well as Beal approving a trade to that team. Beal said last week that if the Suns want to trade him, that he will need to be "addressed" about that option. Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein also said that his client might be willing to allow a trade to be pushed through but would never fully waive his no-trade clause in a deal.

The no-trade clause is one challenge in putting together a deal for Beal. The others are that the veteran guard is regularly injured. And Beal is owed $50.2 million this season and $110.8 million over the next two seasons beyond this one.

Via Marc Stein/The Stein Line

[akula1488]

more like they want to get rid of Beal 'Bad'

[Bentley1225]

If the Suns want Butler, they’re going to have to deal a 1st as they lose leverage with Beal NTC.

[alienpick]

ain't happening. this is why you should have never traded for Beal in the first place

[Pickled Prunes]

ain't happening. this is why you should have never traded for Beal in the first place

True, they should not have traded for Beal. But I would not be surprised if it doesn't get done. I don't think Beal wants to be perceived as the reason PHX didn't get a title or be the most hated player on the court in home games. I don't think Beal is the problem and I don't think Jimmy is the solution, but if he blocks a trade the fans will put everything on him!

There is nothing in PHX that should make Beal want to stay. Right now he's coming off the bench for a losing team. Even a trade to DET is an upgrade in fit, role and playoff hopes.

[xchange55]

The last year of Beal's contract is a player option. I could see a possibility where he agrees to go to bad team and try to put up big numbers next season (at $53m). Then he can opt out of the player option (at $57m) the following year in his age 33 season to sign a long term deal.

Let's say he plays out the contract in PHX including the player option - no matter how well he plays, his stats will be watered down due to Durant and Book. And much tougher then to justify a sizeable next contract while also a year older.

[Roy T]

Everybody knew trading for Beal was bad. He will play out his contract and retire. No way he opts out of 57 mil at the age of 35. The guy is done anyways.

[eureca20]

Everybody knew trading for Beal was bad. He will play out his contract and retire. No way he opts out of 57 mil at the age of 35. The guy is done anyways.

Done? That is definitely a stretch. People acting like he is way worse than he is. He is still a good player. Just overpaid.

He would be 33 when he could opt out. I agree that he likely does not opt out. Which would mean he would be 34 when he hits free agency in 2027. My guess is he is still good at 34. Just gets paid way less.

[NoStatsGuy]

yea beal doesnt seem like the kind of guy that would help the suns getting a deal done. that ntc was one of the worst businessmoves in the history of the nba. and beal also uses it in a way, that i believe team will never give out ntcs again. he literally held multiple teams hostage with that contract and will do with another one IF he gets traded, which i highly doubt.

[objectivefan]

The last year of Beal's contract is a player option. I could see a possibility where he agrees to go to bad team and try to put up big numbers next season (at $53m). Then he can opt out of the player option (at $57m) the following year in his age 33 season to sign a long term deal.

Let's say he plays out the contract in PHX including the player option - no matter how well he plays, his stats will be watered down due to Durant and Book. And much tougher then to justify a sizeable next contract while also a year older.

There are no scenarios where Beal turns down the $57 million player option.

Given his age and injury history, he is a veteran role-player shooter off the bench. His Market is 2 years/$38 million to Denver or Minnesota

[TheCage4]

A deal with Minnesota revolving around Randle makes the most financial sense for Miami; but the ownership questions with the Wolves, Beal's NTC, and what else Riley would want in return are all significant obstacles.

[Furinkazan]

l-ove how this super inteligent NBA gms think theres always someone stupid enough to bail them out
even an average armchair gm Joe knew how this is going to end up but no...lets do it life has no meaning theres no consequences

[MitchB3]

A deal with Minnesota revolving around Randle makes the most financial sense for Miami; but the ownership questions with the Wolves, Beal's NTC, and what else Riley would want in return are all significant obstacles.

The Heat doesn't want to take back cap space that might impact 2026. They (Heat) don't want Beal. The Suns are breaking the cardinal rule of trading, which is de-valuing Beal when they should be increasing him. Moving him to the bench means that they view him as a 6th man, and I don't know about you but paying $50 Million, to a 6th man is nasty work.

[og15]

l-ove how this super inteligent NBA gms think theres always someone stupid enough to bail them out
even an average armchair gm Joe knew how this is going to end up but no...lets do it life has no meaning theres no consequences

Sometimes (not all) there's also the owner influence in some of the moves, and as a GM, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[akula1488]

Randle, Beal, Ingram, Lavine and Jimmy. A 5 team trade where Randle in Miami, Beal in Minnesota, Jimmy in Phoenix, Lavine in New Orleans and Ingram in Chicago make some sense

[puja21]

ain't happening. this is why you should have never traded for Beal in the first place

there's always another willing GM

e.g. Billy King taking on KG/Pierce/Terry for the picks that became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

In a similar vein, I participated -- right here in RealGM in the days leading up to those trades -- in discussions where people wrote these ironclad guarantees:

Feb 2017, hours before the trade: "Pelicans have no chance of getting Boogie cousins. They have nothing to offer."

Sep 2022, again hours before the [Cavs] trade -- these 7 knicks fans were positive Ainge was *lying* about having other suitors for Donovan Mitchell: https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=101078116#p101078116

There is ALWAYS another desperate GM willing to do something that sounds irrational/crazy.

[alienpick]

ain't happening. this is why you should have never traded for Beal in the first place

there's always another willing GM

e.g. Billy King taking on KG/Pierce/Terry for the picks that became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

In a similar vein, I participated -- right here in RealGM in the days leading up to those trades -- in discussions where people wrote these ironclad guarantees:

Feb 2017, hours before the trade: "Pelicans have no chance of getting Boogie cousins. They have nothing to offer."

Sep 2022, again hours before the [Cavs] trade -- these 7 knicks fans were positive Ainge was *lying* about having other suitors for Donovan Mitchell: https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=101078116#p101078116

There is ALWAYS another desperate GM willing to do something that sounds irrational/crazy.

True, and it sounds closer to happening but is Pat Riley gullible enough?

[puja21]

ain't happening. this is why you should have never traded for Beal in the first place

there's always another willing GM

e.g. Billy King taking on KG/Pierce/Terry for the picks that became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

In a similar vein, I participated -- right here in RealGM in the days leading up to those trades -- in discussions where people wrote these ironclad guarantees:

Feb 2017, hours before the trade: "Pelicans have no chance of getting Boogie cousins. They have nothing to offer."

Sep 2022, again hours before the [Cavs] trade -- these 7 knicks fans were positive Ainge was *lying* about having other suitors for Donovan Mitchell: https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=101078116#p101078116

There is ALWAYS another desperate GM willing to do something that sounds irrational/crazy.

True, and it sounds closer to happening but is Pat Riley gullible enough?

I don't think Beal goes to Miami, no -- hard to imagine Miami locking into 110M for another small guard who doesn't defend AND has a NTC

If it happens, probably ends up being a 3, 4 or 5 team trade.

Some possibilities floated on NBA pods/twitter:

Beal goes to Chicago to reunite w/ his Gators' coach
^This assumes Chicago is still willing to move LaVine (let alone take on Beal)

Beal goes to Milwaukee
^This one assumes either:
Bucks are willing to dump Brook Lopez to a 4th team like Houston...
OR
Heat are willing to take reduced salary as the reward to be free of Butle; Middleton + Conaughton cost 40M in 2024 and just 21M (player options) in 2025.

There are some Beal to Philly scenarios too, but PG13 also playing terribly and on a long max deal

There are also some options where Detroit is the 4th team

Bottomline is that Beal and Butler are both negative assets at this point so anyone else getting involved is only adding to the poo poo platter. There's no magic bullet. At least one team is going to be grasping at hope and facing criticism after any deal (and probably ALL of them are)