Beal addresses speculation as talks continue about a potential Heat deal

Phoenix Suns star guard Bradley Beal has been in this situation before.

That’s why these recent trade speculations on social media don’t unsettle him at all.

“Until one of them comes and says something to me or talks to me, it’s all out there,” Beal said after practice Friday. “I’m a Phoenix Sun and I’m here and I’m wearing the uniform. I don’t pay attention to that. They did that to me for ten years.”

Beal returned from missing two games with right knee swelling in Thursday’s 120-111 loss to Indiana at the Footprint Center, scoring 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting in 31 minutes. The Suns (14-12) complete a three-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons (11-17) on Saturday.

“I felt good, felt really good at the end of the game,” Beal said. “Moves really well. So I’m in a good spot, I’m in a good spot.”

When ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Suns were on the list of teams as possible trade destinations for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, Beal’s name immediately came up, largely because of the similarities in their contracts.

Even though the Suns are over the NBA’s second tax threshold, they could trade Beal for Butler and a player on a veteran minimum contract, even if it makes the deal make more money.

The key is to have a minimum experienced player in the deal. Any team can sign a player with a minimum salary in a trade under the so-called minimum wage exception.

Butler is due $48.7 million this season and Beal is due $50.2 million. So, for example, the Heat could bring in Josh Richardson, who is due $3,051,153 this season on a veteran minimum contract, and make the deal work.

However, Beal would have to agree to the trade because he has a no-trade clause. He is in his second season in Phoenix after spending 11 years with the Washington Wizards, where he was a three-time All-Star. The Suns acquired Beal in an offseason trade in 2023 that involved Chris Paul.

Miami, which is above the first tax threshold but below the second, would have to send more money. Teams in this situation can still combine (or combine) contracts to create a single contract as long as the team remains under the second tax bracket.

In this case, Miami would remain under the second tax bracket. The Suns also have an open roster spot to add a second player in a trade.

As a younger player, Beal said comments were made about him on social media when asked how he handled negative comments, whether about injuries or trade speculation.

Now, at age 31, Beal deals with it differently.

“I used to be a Twitter boss who was there all the time and saw what people were saying,” Beal said. “Everyone is going to have an opinion about something. I think it kind of puts you in a negative mood. I don’t pay attention to it. Everyone has an opinion about something and no one controls injuries. Everyone wants their favorite player to play with their next favorite player. It’s just noise, man. You just have to go out there and do your job.”

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer praised how Beal handled the injuries. Beal has played in just 16 games this season, sitting out due to an elbow sprain, a calf strain and knee swelling.

“There was a real frustration with him,” Budenholzer said. “It feels like a little bit of bad luck when you have a little bit of that stuff, but I think he likes to do flips, whether it’s out of frustration or bad luck or whatever, and then go into the weight room and put in his time. Puts his time in. “Being with the coaching staff, being with his teammates, I think his energy was good and helpful.”

Beal is averaging 17.7 points on 50% shooting this season.

“And his head, his mind and his heart were in good condition,” Budenholzer continued. “It’s not easy when you can’t play and I think he handled it well.”

Do you have any opinions on the current state of the suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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Beal addresses speculation as talks continue about a potential Heat deal

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