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via Imago

via Imago

Phoenix just gave itself a serious boost in flexibility by striking a deal with the Utah Jazz, tripling its draft assets in the process. The Suns turned a single tradeable first-round pick into six through 2030, staying compliant with The Stepien Rule. That move? It’s a game-changer. But is it really for Jimmy Butler or to ship out Bradley Beal?

The Milwaukee Bucks might just throw their hat in the ring to shake things up in the Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat and Bradley Beal-Phoenix Suns trade saga. Or that’s what we thought until yesterday.

Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein from ‘Priority Sports,’ shut down the rumors in a chat with Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic on Wednesday. He said any claims about Beal waiving his no-trade clause for teams like the Bucks, Nuggets, Heat, or Lakers were “created out of thin air.”

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And honestly, he didn’t hold back. Bartelstein emphasized that Beal put in the work to secure a contract with a no-trade clause, calling it “of tremendous value.”

Plus, the Suns have even cleared their stance on Butler. Phoenix isn’t even entertaining the idea of shipping off Ryan Dunn in a Jimmy Butler trade—no chance. The rookie wing has become a cornerstone in their push for a championship, and they’re not about to mess with that. Dunn recently stepped into Bradley Beal’s spot in the starting lineup, and honestly, he’s making it look like the Suns knew exactly what they were doing.

If you’ve been following the team, it’s pretty obvious they’re all-in on Dunn’s potential. Trading him away now? That’d be like selling your PS5 to buy a used DVD player—it’s just not happening!

What’s your perspective on:

Are the Suns making a genius move with Dunn, or should they have gone for Butler?

Have an interesting take?

Meanwhile, Beal might be focusing on playing for the Suns but his injury won’t let him.

Bradley Beal ruled out for the matchup against the Nets

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On Wednesday night, the Suns will be without one of their key players when they face the Brooklyn Nets in New York. Bradley Beal, the Suns’ three-time NBA All-Star, has been ruled out against the Nets.

Beal, in his second season with Phoenix, has been averaging 17.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He’s been pretty efficient, shooting 48.5% from the field and 38.6% from three. But the Suns’ season has been a bit of a rollercoaster—they sit at 21-21, 10th in the Western Conference. They’ve been solid recently, going 6-4 in their last 10, but their road record is just 8-13. Most recently, they took a heavy loss to the Cavs, 118-92, where Beal struggled, scoring just five points, with three rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes.

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After this matchup with the Nets, the Suns head back home to host Jordan Poole and the Wizards on Saturday, a game that’s sure to have Beal facing his old team for the first time since his trade.

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The Nets, on the other hand, are in a rough patch. At 14-30, they’re in 12th place in the East and have been on a four-game losing streak. With just one win in their last 10 games, it’s been a tough season for Brooklyn. Let’s see if they can turn it around—though it’s looking like a long shot.

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Are the Suns making a genius move with Dunn, or should they have gone for Butler?