Bradley Beal knows he holds ‘the cards’ in any trade including him

Bradley Beal knows he holds ‘the cards’ in any trade including him

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is the hottest name on the market less than one month out from the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The team that’s been most frequently linked to him recently, however, is the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix is in a difficult position to execute any (big) trade because of their cap situation. It leads the NBA in active payroll–$42 million above the first apron and $31 million above the second apron, according to Spotrac.

Thus, it cannot aggregate salary in any trade involving Butler–or anyone. Miami is also an apron team–it can still aggregate salary, but cannot take more salary than it trades out, like Phoenix.

Phoenix can’t acquire Butler without a third or fourth team getting involved. The Suns player frequently mentioned as someone who could be on his way out is Suns guard Bradley Beal, who is on the hook for $50.2 million this season. But Beal is well aware he is in full control of his future destination because of his full no-trade clause.

“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” he told reporters Monday. “Until I’m addressed and somebody says something different, then I’ll be a Sun.”

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports’ 98.7 FM Phoenix, Beal would only be able to waive his no-trade clause for a select few teams—Miami, Denver, and Los Angeles (no specification) were a few of them. We know that the Heat aren’t interested in Beal nor have they been for the last several years, so Phoenix would have to reroute Beal to a preferred destination somehow if Butler wants to be a Sun; he can completely nix any deal, even if all sides agree in principle.

As for Beal the no-trade looms large. He could have went to Milwaukee before he ended up in Phoenix but that was turned down. Have heard he would waive no trade for LA, Miami, Denver but I do believe there are a few others that he could ultimately decide work for him.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) January 6, 2025

Suns Are Only Team Willing To Pay Jimmy Butler The Contract He Wants

Miami could trade Butler, currently serving a team-sanctioned seven-game suspension, elsewhere. But no package has been appealing to them. Trades happen when all sides become more urgent, so that could change in an instant–all it takes is one or two teams to get the ball rolling. Though Butler’s controversial past could make this a very complicated departure.

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