It looks like things are getting tense in the Valley. The Phoenix Suns first moved Bradley Beal from their starting lineup, and now they could remove him from their payroll! At first, Beal expressed “surprise” at his benching. But now it looks like the emotions are not of surprise. With how things have been going for the Suns this season, they really need to focus on trading Beal before the deadline.

As the Suns were playing against the Atlanta Hawks, a video emerged which is quickly catching fire on social media. In the video, Devin Booker forms a huddle with his teammates, talking and smiling. Beal was in the back shaking others’ hands and walked right past D Book and the rest!

Trouble in the Valley? Maybe, but the fans think the 3x All-Star is going away soon.

Fans take note of Bradley Beal’s careless behavior

One fan wrote, “Beal knows he’s getting traded soon, so I feel like that’s why he doesn’t care and walked away.” It’s hard to ignore the possibility that Beal’s head isn’t fully in it anymore, especially when there’s a trade deadline looming. If he already knows a deal is coming, maybe he’s mentally preparing for a change. After all, walking past your teammates during a team huddle speaks volumes about where a player’s mindset is.

“Yh thats crazy doing too much need beal to get out of there,” wrote another fan. The situation in Phoenix has been tense for a while now, especially with the Suns benching Beal and him seeming somewhat disconnected from the team. You can understand why fans would want him to move on, especially if it feels like his presence isn’t exactly helping the Suns get back on track this season.

The Suns had high hopes when they brought him in, but with the team’s struggles, Beal’s chemistry with Booker and the rest of the squad seems strained.

Beal’s situation in Phoenix has become increasingly untenable. “Bradley Beal is gone by the deadline. Look at this *crying emojis*,” wrote a seemingly sad fan after watching the video. The Suns have championship aspirations, and as much as Beal is a talented player, his fit with the roster, combined with his injuries, hasn’t translated to on-court success.

But there’s a caveat. “He has a no trade clause so the only guarantee is to cut him which they won’t do,” rightly pointed a netizen. It’s true, the no-trade clause gives Beal a lot of leverage. Essentially, he has control over where he goes, which means the Suns can’t just ship him off without his approval.

If Phoenix can’t convince Beal to waive the clause for a trade they’re comfortable with, they’ll have to choose between keeping him or cutting him.

Another fan pointed out the Suns’ strategy. “They benched Bradley Beal in an attempt to make him feel uncomfortable and ask to be traded,” they wrote. While there’s no official word from the team on whether this was the goal, it does align with a common tactic teams sometimes use when trying to get a player to take action on their own trade request.

Beal scored the most points for the Suns twice in the three games he came off the bench. Despite his bench role, he continues to contribute at a high level when needed. So benching him might not be a reflection of his ability to produce on the floor, but rather a message from the coaching staff or front office.