Right now, only two players in the league hold a no-trade clause. One of them is LeBron James and the other one is the Suns’ Bradley Beal. On Monday night, Beal came off the bench for the first time since the 2015-16 season, helping the Suns secure a 109-99 win over the 76ers. Even without a starting spot, Beal made his presence felt, dropping 25 points with an efficient 10-of-15 shooting and adding five assists to the stat sheet.

Beal’s no-trade clause, part of his five-year, $251 million deal from the Wizards in 2022, gives him the upper hand in any trade talks. As the 3x All-Star put it, “I hold the cards”. But wait, has there been a change of heart for the 6 foot 4 guard? Because any other player would be petty about being on the bench. Not Beal.

“Every moment,” Beal admitted when asked if there’s a specific instance where the adjustment hit him after the Suns won against the Hawks. “But again, I’m not gonna be a distraction. I’m not gonna be an a**hole. I’m not going to be unprofessional. [I’ll] do my job. Do what I’m asked to do.” It looks like Beal is surrendering to Coach Mike Budenholzer.

For a player who has been a starter for nearly his entire career, accepting a bench role won’t come easy. When a reporter asked if he takes pride in maintaining his level of play despite the adjustment, Beal’s answer reflected his confidence and work ethic. “I always take pride in my game, like, and who I am and what I do,” he said. “And it’s no different. I guess it’s just more magnified because [it’s] something that people are not used to seeing.”

He’s right. No one’s used to seeing a star of his stature just following orders. And he’s been performing very well off the bench. In two of the three matches he has come off the bench, he has been the team’s top scorer. He’s also been averaging 20 ppg with 58% from the field.

Beal is performing as he’s asked to, but do you he’ll be coming off the bench the whole time he is with the Suns?

Bradley Beal’s new role stirs the pot between former stars

While the decision to shift to the bench is working for the Suns, this did not sit well with some. This bold decision quickly sparked a fiery debate on Gil’s Arena between former NBA stars Gilbert Arenas and Rashad McCants. Arenas, not holding back, posted the heated exchange on X, tagging it with the line: “Benching Bradley Beal is wasting $50 million.”

McCants, however, backed the Suns’ move. His reasoning? Beal’s massive contract comes with expectations, no matter where he plays. “I’m giving you $50 [million] to come in here and give me 25-4-4,” McCants argued, saying that Beal should still perform, even off the bench. With a stacked roster like Phoenix’s, he doesn’t believe Beal should get the luxury of being both a starter and a high-volume shooter.

But Arenas disagreed, firing back that Beal’s role as a starter is crucial for him to live up to his potential. He believes that a starting role will unleash Beal’s scoring ability. Brandon Jennings joined in, echoing the sentiment that Beal’s shots need to be prioritized, which won’t happen if he’s not starting. That’s fine as long as he’s not calling him “soft”.

The back-and-forth hit its peak when Arenas snapped at McCants: “You sound stupid…give me my shots. If you want me to protect you as your bodyguard, then give me my gun.” Whether you agree with Arenas or McCants, one thing’s clear: this move is a major talking point for Suns fans. The pressure is on for Beal to prove his worth.