Bradley Beal reclaimed his territory once again. Tonight, the Phoenix Suns guard had a lot to prove, stepping on the floor to face the Philadelphia 76ers. After a series of disappointing performances, the management took a tough call and allotted him a place on the bench. It definitely seemed to have worked, as he came out all guns blazing with a team-high 25 points to defeat the Sixers. However, one nagging question related to the much-hyped Jimmy Butler trade doesn’t seem to have subsided.

Following the game-winning performance, Beal took up questions from the reporters sitting in the locker room. One of them, reading the mood in the NBA world, asked the burning question. He asked if the team’s decision to move him out of the starting lineup was anything to do with the Jimmy Butler trade. Well, Beal’s answer might have shaken the Miami Heat star’s dreams.

In response, Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause signed with his 5-year contract, calmly said, “If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards. Until I’m addressed and somebody says something different, then I’ll be a Sun.” The veteran guard, playing in his 13th season, holds a trump card that only 9 players have enjoyed previously. It’s the rare no-trade clause that he signed during his latest 5-year deal with the Wizards worth $250 million. However, he ultimately waived it to join hands with the Suns.

Now that Bradley Beal still holds the “Cards” for his future in the side, he has left Jimmy Butler in a tough spot. The Butler situation doesn’t need any introduction. The Heat had suspended the star forward after he had publicly expressed his wish for a trade out. While the Suns came out as the front-runner to trade Butler for Beal, the guard’s recent statement has opened up a new drama.

Where will Jimmy Butler end up?

As of now, Butler’s future looks bleak in the NBA world. Considering the star’s $52 million salary for the last season of his contract, it’s undoubtedly a tough task for any team in the league to find the cap space. However, the veteran forward might have some help.

Recently, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports, a senior reporter covering the Suns, revealed that Bradley Beal could waive his no-trade clause with particular trade offers. Gambadoro said, “Have heard he would waive the no-trade clause for Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Denver Nuggets, but I do believe there are a few more teams interested.”

Moreover, with the Lakers still having a void after D’Angelo Russell‘s exit, Beal would make a great fit. Dorian Finney-Smith has a lot to offer, but the Lakers still need a scoring guard. So, the Lakers, Heat, and Suns could come together and crack a triple-team deal and end the drama once and for all. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.