Will benching Bradley Beal fix Suns or is it setting up a Jimmy Butler trade?

PHOENIX Feels like were living in an episode of Squid Game or Desperate Basketball Team.

SO MUCH DRAMA.

Let me catch you up.

In the middle of losing 7 of 8 games, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer benched star Bradley Beal and center Jusuf Nurkic.

Both players are struggling, and their numbers are way down this season.

This isnt a day-to-day move its permanent.

However, with the trade deadline a month away, the talk around the NBA is a possible deal to send Beal to Miami for star Jimmy Bulter.

Bulter has made it clear he wants to be traded and has listed the Suns as a landing spot.

Beal would have to waive his no-trade clause.

Hes owed over $110 million dollars on his contract, which is reportedly a non-starter for the Heat, so youd have to get a third team involved.

Devin Booker told Suns beat writer Duane Rankin he didnt see the lineup changes coming.

Kevin Durant said the team had some important team meetings the past few days and the result worked.

In Beals first game off the bench, he played 30 minutes, just 2 minutes shy of his season average, and had a game-high 25 points.

The Suns beat the 76ers and snapped a 4-game losing streak.

He was smiling and hugging his teammates.

Beal admitted it was a difficult conversation with Coach Bud hearing he was coming off the bench for the first time in nine years.

But Beal is a true professional.

Theres no arguing with Coachs decision or being a distraction, its all about doing whats best for the team.

Coach Bud has done this before.

Hes got credibility.

Back when he was terrorizing the Suns and winning titles as a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, their most important player, hall of famer Manu Ginobili the third member of their big three came off the bench most of his career because that was best for the team.

Suns fans remember Manu was their spark, energy, and heart, and soul.

Like Beal Monday night, Manu played start minutes nightly and always ended the game on the court, but just came off the bench.

Basketball-wise, this move makes sense.

It fixes the Suns problems and Beal should embrace this role.

Its also their last resort.

It didnt work with Beal at point guard, and it didnt work with him in the starting lineup.

But if you ask folks nationally, theres a different reason Beal was benched.

Let me put those rumors on Beal to rest, ESPNs Brian Windhorst said Tuesday on First Take.

They absolutely are trying to trade Bradley Beal...

They put him on the bench.

Theyre basically trying to make him feel unwelcome in Phoenix so that he will waive that no-trade clause.

The player they want to trade him for is Jimmy Butler, but the Heat dont want Bradley Beal.

The drama never stops.

Beal hasnt heard anything about a trade yet.

If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards," Beal said.

Until I'm addressed and somebody says something different, then I'll be a Sun." The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBAs Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury.

The Indoor Football Leagues Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tours highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.

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