The Phoenix Suns have exhausted virtually every possible path to trade Bradley Beal in a package that nets them Jimmy Butler, which has led them to begin pivoting instead to a consideration of a Kevin Durant trade that could help turn around their chances of contending in the Western Conference. Because Beal is on a no-trade clause and has $160 million on his contract this year and for the next two seasons, the Suns have been unable to find a trade that satisfies a rival team that he would also approve.
"Wow, bro," said Brian Windhorst when asked on Get Up to talk about where the Suns are currently. "The Suns have been trying for weeks to turn Bradley Beal into Jimmy Butler to pair him with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. That is what the Suns have wanted. That is what Jimmy Butler has wanted. That's not what Brad Beal wants. And he has a no-trade clause. They have reached loggerheads.
"They have tried almost every team in the league from what I understand. They went out and traded their one first round pick into three to try to pay off three different teams to do deals. I can't tell you how many things I've been through on calls listening to stuff on how they've tried. They are at the end here. The deadline is here. They have no Brad Beal trade. They are 25-24. They have a very aggressive owner. Now, they are examining: this team isn't working, we can't trade Beal. What are we going to do? Durant has one year on his contract. They have now begun entertaining 'Should we trade Kevin Durant?' And they have begun those discussions across the league."
The Golden State Warriors are among the teams to register interest in trading for Durant.
"We now have the Warriors and Suns discussing the possibility of bringing Kevin Durant back," said Windhorst.
