In their pursuit of Jimmy Butler, the Phoenix Suns will likely need to trade Bradley Beal. As one of the few players in the league with a no-trade clause, along with LeBron James, Beal holds the power to decide where he goes, meaning the Suns must find a destination he approves.
Even if Beal were open to joining the Golden State Warriors, the team can’t fit his massive $52 million salary into their cap space. In fact, the Warriors might make a play for Butler before the Suns can.
If the Suns are unable to move Beal, they may look to trade wing Josh Okogie in their search for a center, given Jusuf Nurkic’s underperformance. This could present an opportunity for the Warriors, who might be interested in acquiring Okogie. At 26, Okogie is set to make $7.7 million next season, though his contract isn’t fully guaranteed. While averaging six points and 2.9 rebounds in limited minutes, Okogie has become known for his solid defense and career-high 38.1% shooting from beyond the arc.
The Suns have relegated Nurkic to the bench or even kept him out of games, while the Warriors have been giving limited playing time to Kevon Looney as Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post handle the center duties.
Both teams could look to swap players, with Looney set to become a free agent after this season and Okogie stuck in the Suns’ rotation. A change of scenery could benefit both players.
With both teams led by still-elite stars, a deep playoff run remains a possibility for either squad, but to make it happen, they will need to fine-tune their rosters by improving in specific areas.