By Sam Amick, David Aldridge, Tony Jones, Jon Krawczynski, Sam Vecenie and Rebecca Tauber
The Phoenix Suns appear to be stocking up on a Jimmy Butler trade.
Following the Suns’ deal with the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, in which Phoenix tripled its number of available first-round picks, a source close to the Miami Heat star said there is growing optimism that to the fact that he was about to reach his desired destination. — Phoenix — accordingly. Yet, as has been reported for months now, this potential deal is widely expected to include Bradley Beal, the Suns guard whose no-trade clause continues to loom large in this situation.
If Beal wanted him, he would probably go to a third team. Yet, according to a source close to Beal, there was no discussion between the Suns and Beal Tuesday night about the possibility of him opting out of his clause.
That doesn’t hold water — at least for now — but league-wide speculation about what could happen next has taken full effect thanks to the Suns’ latest efforts. As several rival executives have indicated, Milwaukee is a team worth keeping an eye on as the Suns continue to pursue third-team partners in a Butler deal. According to league sources, the Bucks’ motivations are twofold: reducing enough salary from their payroll to move under the second apron – the only way for the Bucks to legally complete a transaction while consolidating contracts – and also adding a talented and well-paid player. to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the NBA’s most successful duo. It remains to be seen whether it would be Beal, or perhaps a star like Chicago’s Zach LaVine, in other potential scenarios.
Earlier Tuesday, the Suns traded their unprotected 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, league sources said. Athletics. ESPN was first to report the trade.
The Suns received the least favorable of first-round picks between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves this year and the least favorable of picks from the Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Jazz in 2027 and 2029. The Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA until Now this season, the 2025 pick will likely be at the bottom of the first round. Picks in 2027 and 2029 will likely be in the 20s as well.
How adding first-round picks helps Suns potentially acquire Butler
The Suns have a lot to do before the February 6 trade deadline. First, of course, is finding a way to get Butler from Miami — but that still depends on Beal needing to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate any deal with the Heat, which This is a two or more team deal. In the meantime, Phoenix also needs to find a way to move veteran center Jusuf Nurkić, and to do that the Suns will likely have to pair him with a future first-round pick for a team to accept Nurk’s $19.3 million for 2025. -26.
With Utah’s top three, the Suns can now avoid the Stepien Rule and trade a first in one of the next six drafts (but still not in consecutive years). By turning a first (unprotected) pick into a three pick, Phoenix has a little more flexibility to make more potential deals — and more inventory to invest in a Butler trade. — David Aldridge, senior columnist
What Utah gets from the Phoenix deal
After the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades, the Jazz had been overloaded with future draft picks, with 13 more first-rounders expected to arrive in the seven years preceding that deal. Utah already has the third-youngest team in the league in terms of minutes played, even with Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Drew Eubanks (all 27 or older) logging significant minutes. Utah currently has six players on the roster for the 2023 and 2024 NBA Drafts, and all of those players were 20 years old or younger to start the season.
This trade consolidates their three worst first-round picks into one potentially high-value selection: an unprotected first-rounder from the Phoenix Suns in 2031. The picks sent by the Jazz will likely be the No. 29 or 30th overall pick in 2025, one pick will likely be in the high 20s in 2027 and another pick expected to be a late first rounder in 2029.
For the Jazz, this trade is a bet against the Suns’ long-term future after this era ends. Some league sources are very skeptical of the longevity of this Suns era and aren’t even sure they will maintain the middling level of success they have achieved during this Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Beal era. Even if this trade leads to the Suns acquiring Butler, 35, it could lead to other problems in the future, especially if Butler receives a contract extension after joining the team.
On the other hand, other league sources believe Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s willingness to spend long-term will keep the Suns from truly bottoming out.
Still, this deal is probably worth it for the Jazz if they simply receive a pick in the back half of the lottery. Anything beyond that makes it a huge win. Plus, if the Suns start to hit rock bottom in a few years, this pick could become highly sought after on the trade market just as the Jazz expect to be competitive and turn things around.
Overall, this is a deal that league executives say makes sense for Utah. — Sam Vecenie, NBA senior writer
Eric Nehm contributed to this story.
Required reading
(Photo: Jim Rassol / Imagn Images)
