The Suns (14-14) obtained off to a rollicking 8-1 begin to the season however have since gone 6-13 to settle right into a mediocre .500 group.
In gentle of their current struggles, the Suns are reportedly exploring the concept of buying and selling for Warmth All-Star Jimmy Butler, who is alleged to be obtainable in commerce talks earlier than the Feb. 6 deadline.
In keeping with The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin, the Suns lately engaged the Warmth a few commerce involving Butler and Bradley Beal.
“As for Bradley Beal, sources knowledgeable The Republic there nonetheless are conversations a few cope with the Miami Warmth involving Jimmy Butler,” Rankin wrote.
Beal, who owns a no-trade clause in his $251M contract, must comply with a transfer to Miami. The 31-year-old guard beforehand waived the clause when the Wizards traded him to the Suns in June 2023.
The report added that there is not any assure the Warmth would maintain onto Beal and it would be “of their finest curiosity” to take away his no-trade clause from the contract. Such a transfer would permit them to flip Beal for different gamers or belongings.
In keeping with ESPN’s Shams Charania, Butler has listed the Suns among the many 4 groups he’d welcome a commerce to, moreover the Mavericks, Rockets and Warriors. As such, the Suns are doubtless exploring the deal as a result of Butler’s reported curiosity in taking part in alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Amongst Butler’s 4 most popular locations, the Rockets have the simplest path to touchdown the six-time All-Star as a result of their cap flexibility. Houston is loaded with a chest of draft picks and tradable contracts, together with Fred VanVleet’s expiring $42.8M deal, that it will probably use to amass Butler. Moreover, Houston can open up greater than $60M in cap house within the 2025 offseason to supply Butler a brand new contract.
