Bradley Beal is set to join the NBA’s latest Big 3, as the three-time All-Star has agreed to a trade that will send him to the Phoenix Suns. This move will bring him together with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, forming a trio with tremendous offensive prowess and aspirations of winning a championship.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Suns have agreed to send Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and a collection of future second-round picks to the Washington Wizards. Additionally, there will be some pick swaps involved in the trade. The details of the deal are still pending league approval, as confirmed by the anonymous source speaking to The Associated Press.
The significant development in this trade is that Bradley Beal has waived his no-trade clause to join the Suns. Agent Mark Bartelstein revealed this on Sunday. It’s possible that a third team could eventually be involved in the trade, especially if they are interested in acquiring Chris Paul. However, the basic framework of the deal has been completed.
ESPN was the first to report the specific details of this trade.
The Phoenix Suns are driven by the clear objective of winning a championship, especially after their heartbreaking loss in the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, where they had a 2-0 lead but ultimately fell in six games. Heading into the upcoming season, the Suns will undergo some changes. Monty Williams, who led the team to the Finals, has been replaced by Frank Vogel as head coach, and Chris Paul, who has yet to capture a championship, will no longer be the starting point guard. Additionally, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker will have the opportunity to train together in a full training camp for the first time.
For the Washington Wizards, this trade marks the beginning of a new era that is likely necessary. The team has endured five consecutive seasons with a losing record, missing the playoffs in four of those years. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2018. In the upcoming NBA draft, the Wizards hold the eighth overall pick, and they may face the possibility of Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis becoming free agents by declining their player options, which seems probable at this point.
The trade between Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns was finalized within a week after the conclusion of the NBA Finals, in which the Denver Nuggets emerged as the champions by defeating the Miami Heat. Interestingly, the Miami Heat had been actively engaged in discussions with the Washington Wizards regarding the potential acquisition of Beal.
This trade sets the stage for an eventful week in the NBA, as the upcoming NBA draft will take place on Thursday. It is anticipated that Victor Wembanyama will be selected as the No. 1 pick by the San Antonio Spurs. Additionally, the draft night often sees numerous player trades, so there is a possibility of more players being on the move in the coming days.
The acquisition of Bradley Beal by the Phoenix Suns marks the second major move made by owner Mat Ishbia in a short period of time. Just a few days after taking over the Suns in February, Ishbia orchestrated a significant deal to acquire Kevin Durant, involving a combination of players and first-round draft picks.
With the addition of Beal, Durant, and Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns now boast three of the 12 active players in the NBA who have played at least 500 games while maintaining an average of at least 22 points per game. These three players will have a combined salary of approximately $130 million for the upcoming season, signifying a substantial investment by the Suns in terms of both salary and luxury tax as they strive for a championship.
Since his first All-Star season in 2017-18, Bradley Beal has maintained an impressive average of 26.0 points per game, ranking him among the top 10 scorers in the NBA during that period. He has been selected as an All-Star three times in the past six seasons and earned All-NBA honors in the 2020-21 season, finishing as the runner-up in the scoring race for the second consecutive year.
Beal is currently in the second year of a potentially five-year, $251 million contract. The final year of the contract is an option for him, which, if exercised, would pay him $57.1 million. Over the next four years, Beal is owed approximately $207.7 million.
