Bradley Beal addresses the trade rumors: ‘I hold the cards’

Phoenix Suns star guard Bradley Beal seemingly addressed the trade rumors circulating around him and the Suns at this point in the 2024-25 season.

Beal has been floated as a potential player that could be moved in a deal for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, but the Suns guard has a no-trade clause in his contract which means he has to approve of any trade with him involved in order for it to happen.

“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” Beal said. “So, until I’m addressed and somebody says something differently, then I’ll be a Sun.”

The Suns recently benched Beal, bringing him off the pine against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The three-time All-Star responded by having one of his better games of the season, scoring 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. He also added three rebounds and five assists in a Suns win.

According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Beal wasn’t happy about moving to the bench, but he intends to play in any role that Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer puts him in.

“Beal also intends to play in whatever position he’s put in,” Vorkunov wrote. “He was not happy about being moved to the bench, but he said he adjusted to it quickly, putting together one of his best games of the season. He offered the Suns a burst of energy at a time they needed it as they meandered through an ugly first half.”

At 16-18, the Suns are the No. 12 seed in the Western Conference so far this season. They’ve struggled over their last 10 games, going 3-7, so it appears Budenholzer was looking to shake things up to get back in the win column.

Even though he thrived in a bench role on Monday, Beal still believes he is a starter at the NBA level.

“I’m a starter in the league,” Beal said. “I firmly believe that. I don’t believe that — no disrespect to anyone, but I’m a starter. That’s what I firmly believe. But Coach made his decision. I’m not gonna sit here and argue with it. I’m not gonna sit here and be a distraction. I’m not gonna sit here and be an a–hole. He made his decision. I live with it. He’s the coach, know what I’m saying? I just gotta go out and play my game, and whatever happens from there, happens from there.”

This season, Beal is averaging 18.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc. The star guard is under contract with the Suns in the 2025-26 season and has a player option in his deal worth more than $57 million for the 2026-27 campaign.

If Beal doesn’t plan on waiving his no-trade clause this season, the Suns are certainly hoping that he can help get them back in the mix for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.