Suns are betting on Bradley Beal Trade Turning them into Champs
After 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal was traded to the Phoenix Suns this week in one of the biggest trades of the early off-season in the NBA.
In return the Wizards receive Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, Jordan Goodwin, and a haul of second round picks and multiple pick swaps.
The Wizards receieve the Suns second round picks in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027,2028 and 2030. Pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030 per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
BREAKING: The Washington Wizards are trading three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, a handful of second-round picks, and multiple pick swaps, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2023
Beal had a no-trade clause in his contract which he obviously waved.
As for Paul, welp, he wasn’t a Wizard for long. On Thursday the Golden State Warriors traded for him. The Warriors gave up Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, second round pick in 2027 and a protected first round pick in 2030.
ESPN Sources: The Washington Wizards are finalizing a deal to send Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package that includes Jordan Poole and future draft assets. pic.twitter.com/kpNkhqFicp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023
Paul helped to turn the Suns into immediate contenders, leading them to an appearance in the 2021 Finals against the Bucks.
It will be interesting to see how he fits in with Golden State. The backcourt just got smaller and there will be almost no defense on the perimeter.
For the Suns the move to get Bradley Beal is a move that says, ‘We are going for the title now.’
Since the Suns got a new owner in Matt Ishbia he has made it clear he wants to win now. Just a few days after officially becoming the owner he trades for Kevin Durant. They came up short in the semifinals as a result. Trading for Beal could be the move that gets the Suns over the hump.
But at what cost?
Beal, Durant and Booker are going to make about $130 million combined next season. Beal is only in his second year of a five-year, $251 million contract and over the next four years he is owed $207.7 million. Also, Deandre Ayton is on a max contract as well. With all these contracts building a team around these guys is going to be incredibly hard. Anyone coming to this team is basically going to have to take the veteran minimum of $2.6 million.
The Suns also have a new coach in Frank Vogel who is no stranger to coaching super teams. He just did it with the Lakers.
The Suns will be a team to watch regardless.
