As the Phoenix Suns approach Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, they’re facing a tricky situation. The team has two players it would like to move, but they’re constrained by the NBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement. One of those players is Bradley Beal, who holds a no-trade clause in his five-year, $250 million contract signed with the Washington Wizards in 2022. He has two seasons left on the deal, including a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27.
Another player the Suns are looking to move is center Jusuf Nurkić, who earns $18.1 million but has recently expressed a lack of relationship with head coach Mike Budenholzer.
The Suns have boxed themselves into a corner by committing $150.7 million of their $230.8 million salary cap to three players: Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. At $90.2 million over the cap, they sit second in the NBA, well beyond the second apron threshold of $188.9 million, which would trigger hefty taxes and penalties.
This dilemma isn’t new for Phoenix. Since Mat Ishbia bought the team from Robert Sarver, they’ve struggled to meet expectations. The roots of their current problems trace back to Sarver’s final seasons as owner.
Beal is firmly in control of his situation, averaging 32.6 minutes and 16.9 points per game—his lowest in a decade. He’s earning $50.2 million for salary cap purposes and has that no-trade clause in place. In a recent postgame interview, Beal made it clear he has no intention of waiving the clause, adding that he hasn’t been asked by management to do so.
Beal had previously waived his no-trade clause in 2023 when he was traded from the Wizards to the Suns. A recent rumor suggested a three-team trade could send Beal to the Chicago Bulls and bring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat to Phoenix, but Beal dismissed the idea, saying, “There’s no way on earth I’ll play for the Bulls.”
In early January, Beal shifted to the bench, a decision that came around the same time as Nurkić’s benching. Beal has missed 22% of all Suns games due to injuries since joining the team. While the bench role seemed logical to provide the Suns with additional scoring, Beal has expressed frustration with the lack of communication from Budenholzer: “He still hasn’t explained it to me,” Beal said. “He just told me I was coming off the bench.”
Nurkić, too, has had issues with Budenholzer. The 12-year veteran, who hasn’t played since January 7, revealed that he hasn’t spoken to the coach for two months, adding, “We don’t have a relationship.” Budenholzer responded, acknowledging the challenges, saying, “It isn’t easy in this league. He hasn’t played in a while. I’m sure he’s frustrated. I respect that.”
When Ishbia took over as owner, he promised to build a winning team, but so far, the Suns are no closer to that goal. Sarver’s clouded ownership legacy, including his suspension for workplace misconduct, severely impacted the team’s ability to make deals. Sarver still had approval rights for trades over $10 million during the transition period, limiting Ishbia’s ability to make moves.
The Suns’ struggles continued as they failed to land Durant in the 2022 offseason. Sarver also wouldn’t extend or trade Jae Crowder, who was ultimately benched for the season. After Ishbia took over, he quickly made a four-team deal to acquire Durant, but the trade cost the Suns key players, including Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson, plus valuable draft picks. Durant, recovering from a serious knee injury, played only eight regular-season games for the Suns, and the team was eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals. That led to the firing of head coach Monty Williams.
The Suns’ playoff woes continued, with a first-round sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. First-year coach Frank Vogel was also let go. This season, under Budenholzer, the Suns are on track for a possible play-in appearance and a potential early exit.
Durant and Booker are not going anywhere, with Durant just 75 points shy of 30,000 and Booker 59 points behind Walter Davis for the franchise’s all-time scoring record. That leaves the focus squarely on Beal.
The trade rumors have stirred up tension as the Suns, with a 25-22 record, head toward the deadline. But Durant remains unfazed. “We’re grown men,” Durant said. “Most of these guys have been in the league eight-plus years. They understand the business. This is nothing new. I’ve been traded, too. I understand this is a hectic time of the year, but you dive into the work and everything else takes care of itself.”
However, so far with the Suns, it hasn’t.
