01-22-2025, 10:53 AM
from Stein:
On one hand: There was an undeniable vibe in Miami after the Suns' trade went down that Butler has taken a notable step nearer to the trade to Phoenix that the whole league knows he wants. One source close to the process expressed the belief that a real pathway to the desert is starting to materialize for Butler.
However ...
Sources with knowledge of the Suns' thinking insisted to The Stein Line that Phoenix made its Tuesday trade with Utah without a specific follow-up move lined up.
Another crucial data point: A separate source told The Stein Line that the Suns, as of Tuesday night, had still not presented any trade scenarios for Bradley Beal to consider and tell them if he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Sources said Phoenix, on top of its recent acquisition of in-demand big man Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, had been contemplating various ways to utilize that 2031 first-round pick on this season's trade market to revitalize the 21-21 Suns' hopes for a swift to the Western Conference elite.
On one hand: There was an undeniable vibe in Miami after the Suns' trade went down that Butler has taken a notable step nearer to the trade to Phoenix that the whole league knows he wants. One source close to the process expressed the belief that a real pathway to the desert is starting to materialize for Butler.
However ...
Sources with knowledge of the Suns' thinking insisted to The Stein Line that Phoenix made its Tuesday trade with Utah without a specific follow-up move lined up.
Another crucial data point: A separate source told The Stein Line that the Suns, as of Tuesday night, had still not presented any trade scenarios for Bradley Beal to consider and tell them if he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Sources said Phoenix, on top of its recent acquisition of in-demand big man Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, had been contemplating various ways to utilize that 2031 first-round pick on this season's trade market to revitalize the 21-21 Suns' hopes for a swift to the Western Conference elite.