When the Phoenix Suns pulled off a deal to acquire Bradley Beal and make him part of some superstar trio with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, this took the whole league by storm. Three elite scorers on one team, yet only one basketball? How will this work? Well, it hasn’t, and fast forward 18 months later, and rumors of Beal being potentially shopped have begun to circulate. The Suns’ front office brought Beal to Phoenix with the idea of boosting their chances of ending a championship drought dating to 1976, but logic prevailed. Team depth, salary cap constraints, and fit on the floor could cause Beal to pack his bags elsewhere.
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The Suns’ Dilemma:
The Suns, clearly being in a win-now mode, and it would be hard to make a flexible roster if three max contract players are on it. If Beal continues building his massive contract, the Suns will have serious problems filling out the roster with quality role players. The team’s lack of true depth and the fact that they already rely on Durant or Booker too much, these Beal trade rumors could help the Suns distribute their resources and create a more balanced lineup and take a little weight off of their two superstars.
Also, Beal has fit questions that have been raised. Additionally, he’s undoubtedly an elite scorer when you’re talking top-tier, but that’s not going to really mesh with Booker’s and Durant’s ball-dominant ways. Lack of clarity on roles kills the offense. All that aside, swapping Beal out for complementary pieces—such as a rim protector or third shooting guard that could spell Booker offensively—would give the Suns a boost and enhance their chances at winning a title.
Where could they land?
Bovada has made odds on Beal’s next potential team in case the Suns end up pulling the trigger on a trade. Here are a few potential suitors:
Chicago Bulls (+350)
Clearly, the Bulls are the favorites, and it seems to be because they need to find someone to plug in next to Zach LaVine or replace one of the many stars on the roster if you’re going the rebuild route. Beal could provide a boost to a struggling Chicago team, while the Suns could potentially acquire draft picks or defensive role players.
New Orleans Pelicans (+600)
The Pelicans are intriguing because they have their treasure trove of young talent and draft picks. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, along with Beal, could form one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. The Suns were looking to add a wing player like CJ McCollum or Herb Jones along with more depth for their bench.
Sacramento Kings (+600)
The Kings have become contenders and could view Beal as that final piece to take their ceiling to another level. A package built around Keegan Murray or Harrison Barnes would give the Suns some much-needed defense along with flexibility and shooting.
Portland Trail Blazers (+700)
Beal might be on Portland’s radar to complement their youth movement with Scoot Henderson. In return, they could get versatile contributors or even more draft capital if they choose to use it for more future trades.
Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat (+750)
A long shot, but with this young core, the Pistons could be a legitimate trade partner. On the other hand, the Heat, desperately hoping to land a star guard after missing out on Damian Lillard, could bring back their pursuit of a guard in Beal.
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With the Suns, Bradley Beal’s future is uncertain. His acquisition was initially a sign of all in, but the financial and strategic cost of keeping him around may be more than it’s worth. The end result, though, will come down to the Suns front office and them determining whether or not the Suns are capable of striking a balance between short-term contention and long-term stability play.
*Any tips, predictions, or strategies published are entirely the opinion of the author, and are not guaranteed to be correct or result in financial gain. The Author is not an employee of Bovada.
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