“We are still a long way from where we need to be.”
That was coach Mike Budenholzer’s telling assessment of the Phoenix Suns, who fell to 14-14 after an ugly 27-point loss to Denver on Monday night. Getting to where Phoenix needs to be will take more than just getting healthy — although that would help — or a change in coaching strategy. The Suns need a shakeup, especially to bring in more defense. With that, the team is testing the waters of a Jusuf Nurkic trade and has discussed a Jimmy Butler trade involving Bradley Beal. reports Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
The Phoenix Suns have been actively looking to trade Jusuf Nurkic, league sources told The Arizona Republic. The Suns (14-14) are looking for a big payday, sources say…
As for Bradley Beal, sources told The Republic that discussions regarding a deal with the Miami Heat involving Jimmy Butler are still ongoing.
Previous reports said the Suns are genuinely interested in a Butler trade, but any conversation about that deal must start with one simple question: Does Bradley Beal want to be traded to Miami? Beal has a no-trade clause and can therefore cancel any deal. Even if Beal is open to a trade, the next question is: will the Heat give up Butler — who has a player option for next season — for Beal, a lesser player with two years left and $100.8 million guaranteed on his contract ( senior year is a player option, it’s hard to imagine him turning that down).
Beal has said no one from Suns management has spoken to him
Trading Nurkic to the Suns would likely be an attempt to improve the team’s 26th-ranked defense. However, many of the bigs on the market — like the Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas and the Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic — would help more on offense than defense.
It will be difficult for the Suns to pull off a trade because the team is over the second apron of the luxury tax – they can’t take back more than one dollar than they send out, nor can they put two players together in a trade (which should be Nurkic or Beal if they go out, not linked to another player). The Suns also can’t put money into a deal. While a trade can be made (Nurkic and a second-round pick for Valanciunas and Sadiq Bey work under the cap), it will be difficult to find one that satisfies both sides.
However, the Suns realize they have to do something.
