The Phoenix Suns have been the subject of some recent trade rumors as they have been underperforming. With an atrocious record without star Kevin Durant and with the injuries continuing, things could surely be looking better. With most contracts being able to be traded coming up on December 15, trade speculation has run rampant around the league. The newest name that has popped up in talks is Jimmy Butler, the star forward from the Heat. Some teams have been mentioned as possibilities for Butler, and the Suns are said to be one in the mix. So, let’s look at the probability of this happening and how it could go down.
Six-Time All-Star Interested in the Suns via Trade
Initial Report
Shams Charania, ESPN’s NBA Insider, dropped this bombshell about the Suns. He stated that the Suns are one of the four teams that six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler would be interested in joining. The other three are the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets. This would immediately shake up the Suns’ roster. A roster shake-up like this, though, could set the Suns on the right track to contention in the West.
The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State. pic.twitter.com/QCXA2uEMXt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2024
How Is This Possible?
Well, as we all know the Suns have limited resources and heavy restrictions in the trade market and with being a second apron team, they are held to specific rules. These are the ones that follow:
SECOND APRON RESTRICTIONS
- The Suns CANNOT aggregate salaries ( Suns cannot trade 2 for 1; they can only trade 1 for 2).
- If a player is traded from PHX, the player coming back to PHX MUST MAKE LESS OR EQUAL VALUE TO THE PLAYER WHO WAS SENT OUT CONTRACT THIS SEASON
- Suns CANNOT do 2 for 2, 3 for 3 trades, ONLY 1 for 1.
For the Suns to acquire Butler and his $48.8 million contract, they would then almost certainly have to part with one of Durant, Devin Booker, or Bradley Beal. Since the Suns could fit Butler in any of those contracts, it would be plausible for them, but the Heat are also in the first apron and can only take up as much salary back as they send out. Therefore, a third team would have to be involved if this were to go down.
Who Would be Traded And How Likely Is it
For the Suns, it seems like out of the Big 3 their would be one outlier. Booker has been the franchise player for a decade, and Durant has been the team’s MVP when on the court. Subsequently, that would leave out Beal and his $50 million contract that contains a no-trade clause. It would be tough for a Suns team, as it would be Beal’s decision on what team in the league he would allow to acquire him. He would get to control where he would like to go. Would Miami get the capital back from that third team that Beal wants to go to? Would Beal even be interested in the teams to which he could be sent? Those limitations would make this trade plausible but highly unlikely.
