Mycampusplug
NBA writer laments Suns’ $251 million acquisition as their “most significant regret
Bradley Beal’s trade with the Washington Wizards was the Phoenix Suns’ big offseason move. But things didn’t quite work out the way they had intended for this season. With a 49-33 record at the end, the Suns were able to secure the sixth spot in the Western Conference rankings.
The Suns’ greatest regret should be the Beal deal, said to Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report.
In an April 16 story, Hughes wrote, “Anyone who thought adding a third score-first player (at the expense of roster depth and balance) to a team that already had two elite bucket-getters did a lot of self-satisfied nodding.” Phoenix finished with the lowest fourth-quarter plus/minus in the NBA while using an incredibly boring “your turn, my turn” offense.
Hughes went on to explain why the Suns might face long-term difficulties with this.
After sacrificing four first-round picks and six second-round picks to acquire Beal, Phoenix is left holding the bag for the final three years and $161 million of his contract after this season, leaving them short on draft capital. This summer will bring with it the second apron and all its roster-building obstacles.
Beal is currently in the second year of a $251 million, five-year contract. Beal scored 18.2 points per game on average during his first campaign in Phoenix. His shooting efficiency increased even as his score totals decreased. Beal, who was playing next to Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, shot 43% from three and 51.3% from the field.
Bradley Beal’s Adaptation to His New Role with the Suns
Beal discussed what it’s been like to be the Suns’ third scorer behind Durant and Booker in an exclusive conversation with Shaun Powell of NBA.com.
I have to choose my opportunities to be aggressive, of course, but I also have to recognize that there are a lot of guys that can contribute. They need to be motivated and given the ball. I believe that as the season progresses, we’re doing a fantastic job of identifying opportunities for everyone and learning from one other. That applies to everyone, not just to KD, Book, and me,” Beal said to Powell in an article published on February 22.
In Washington, Beal’s teammates who scored the most were Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, and John Wall. Though Booker and Durant may be superior players, the Suns have had to get used to having three All-Stars who prioritize scoring.
Suns Want Bradley Beal Traded
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz gave an explanation of why he believes trading Beal will benefit the Suns in a story published on March 18.
Given Bradley Beal’s contract, the deal for the 30-year-old was dubious at the time. This season, injuries have restricted the experienced guard to just 37 games (Beal ultimately played 50), further indicating that this deal was a mistake.
Swartz disapproved of the transaction so strongly that he thinks the Suns would be better off with a talent drop that would cover more gaps.
“The Suns should make the trade if they can find a solution that works for everyone (Beal still has a no-trade clause). It would be worthwhile even to get rid of Beal’s massive deal and bring back some excellent role players (wing, point guard, defensive-minded guy) to surround Booker and Durant.
