By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
Recruited by Phoenix during the summer of 2023, Bradley Beal has so far not met with the expected success. His name is now at the heart of the rumors, he who however has an asset which he could use to join the Lakers.
By joining forces with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, he logically thought he would increase his chances in the title race by NBA. However, a year and a half after his arrival in Phoenix, Bradley Beal still seems very far from lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time. Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season, he is now simply in 12th place in the Western Conference with the Suns (16-18).
Worse still, the star guard takes on the role of scapegoat in a way in the difficult period his team is going through. This Monday, he was in fact relegated to the bench by his coach, Frank Vogel, proof of the drop in his internal rating. Unsurprisingly, his name is also mentioned in transfer rumors, even if his managers will not necessarily be able to part with him as they wish.
Bradley Beal intrigued by a future with the Lakers?
Holder of an XXL contract, Beal appears to be an interesting bargaining chip for the Suns. The latter could thus use him to attract Jimmy Butler, whose interest in joining Phoenix would prove reciprocal. That said, the former Wizard will not have to suffer the outcome of this series, since he has a rare privilege which he intends to take advantage of according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 :
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John Gambadoro: As far as Beal is concerned, his no-trade clause weighs heavily in this matter. He could have joined Milwaukee before ending up in Phoenix, but he turned down the opportunity. I’ve personally heard that he would be willing to opt out of his clause if it allowed him to join LA, Miami or Denver, but I think there are a few other teams he might consider suitable for his qualities.
Master of his destiny, the three-time All-Star would therefore not necessarily be against leaving by the trade deadline of February 6. On the other hand, he will have the luxury of validating or not his possible future base and would be tempted by a rebound in Miami, but also in Denver or Los Angeles. Something to bring up to date the many past rumors that sent him to the Lakers.
But while this revelation has already had the effect of inflaming some Angelino fans, Beal has remained calm in recent hours at Duane Rankin’s microphone:
Bradley Beal : If there is to be a trade, I must be consulted because I am the one who holds the cards. So until someone talks to me about it and makes me understand otherwise, I will remain a Suns player.
Regularly sent to the Lakers in rumors in the past, Bradley Beal would apparently be open to a future with Los Angeles if he were to soon leave Phoenix. In the meantime, he seems destined to come off the Suns bench anyway.
