Grading the Bradley Beal Trade to Phoenix
Beal joins Kevin Durant and Devin Booker for a new “big three” in the Valley
When it was first reported that Bradley Beal would be traded from the Wizards, many expected Washington to move him to the Miami Heat, who quickly emerged as frontrunners who needed help next to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. They even had an ideal two-guard they could’ve given up: Tyler Herro, who just recovered from a broken right hand and was cleared to return during the Heat’s Finals run.
Instead, for whatever reason, the Phoenix Suns swooped in and snagged the standout shooter, giving up Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, Jordan Goodwin, Isaiah Todd, four future second-round picks, and several pick swaps in the process.
They acquired a three-point flamethrower to join their two superstars…without giving up a first-round pick.
Though the deal isn’t finalized just yet — with reports saying the Wizards want to reroute CP3 to a third team — it still sent shockwaves throughout the NBA in what could go down as one of the worst star trades in league history.
Now that I’ve had time to process how absurd this deal is (and the fact that Phoenix robbed Washington blind), it’s time to analyze what it means for both sides.
Washington Wizards: Rebuild Mode Activated
The Wizards will get a better picture of their assets if CP3 is ultimately moved to a third team, but for now…
Washington ultimately went in a timely direction, moving on from Beal and the massive contract he signed with them last season, which is notable considering the new restrictions on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (more on that later).
The Wizards also get a solid shooter in Shamet. The 26-year-old guard averaged 8.7 points per game on 37% shooting from the field, 37% from deep, and 88% from the free-throw line. He has served as a reliable bench player with the Suns, despite the fact he only played 40 games this year (9 starts). Given the Wizards’ new direction, it appears Shamet is set to replace Beal in the starting lineup, being backed up by rising sophomore Johnny Davis and, if need be, forward Corey Kispert.
The acquisition of four second-round picks also gives Washington more assets later in the draft, in addition to the current second-rounders they have this year (#42 from Chicago and #59 from Boston) and their own picks in 2026, 2027, and 2029. They have a history of immediately trading their second-round selections, with the recent exceptions of Tomáš Satoranský (32nd pick, 2012) and Shelvin Mack (34th pick, 2011), who began their careers in D.C. If nothing else, those picks become assets for future deals that would help Washington speed up their rebuild, and the potential pick swaps could net them some solid young talent down the line.
This return for Beal is measly at best. The Wizards definitely could’ve netted something better from the Heat, Bucks, and Kings — destinations that Beal declined in the process.
Grade: C-
Phoenix: Offensive Powerhouse, Defense TBD
If you thought the Suns couldn’t become any more stacked, think again. Somehow, general manager James Jones has pulled off the unthinkable once more, and owner Matt Ishbia is proving he isn’t messing around.
Bradley Beal ended his tenure in the nation’s capital on a relatively high note, averaging 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 50–36–84 splits in 50 games played. He comes to the Suns to form a blazing offense next to KD and Booker, with the latter potentially shifting to a lead facilitator role to accomodate his new teammate.
As astounding as this team looks on paper, there is one major problem impacting the rest of the Suns’ offseason: money — more specifically, the lack thereof.
Beal, Booker, and Durant are making a combined $123 million next season, and adding DeAndre Ayton in the mix will ring the bill up to $163 million between those four players. With the recent rules placed in the CBA, Phoenix’s high payroll automatically puts them into the luxury tax and the “second apron” that will restrict their roster flexibility going forward (according to HoopsRumors):
“Penalties for exceeding the second apron include the loss of the mid-level exception, a ban on including cash as part of trades and the inability to accept more salary in a trade than the team sends out. A team in the second apron will also be unable to aggregate salary in trades and cannot trade its first-round pick seven years in the future (ie. its 2030 pick in 2023/24) or sign players on the buyout market.”
At this rate, the Suns will be looking for veteran minimum players to fill their bench, or worse, the best player at local rec leagues. Depth is always the key sticking point whenever top-heavy teams are formed, and this team is no exception. Phoenix has taken a huge risk with this move, and now it’s time to surround their stars with adequate role players who can step up any night.
Aside from Beal, the Suns also received two other young players: Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd.
Goodwin is a second-year point guard from Saint Louis who had minimal opportunities in D.C. He played 62 games (18 MPG) and averaged 6.6 points and 2.7 assists per game on 45–32–68 splits.
At 6'10" from the G League Ignite, Todd also did not see many minutes with the big club, often gaining experience with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. In three seasons there, he averaged 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 39% shooting from the field, 31% from three, and 72% from the free-throw line. Though the numbers are deceiving, Todd holds potential as a promising player who can develop in Frank Vogel’s system.
And don’t think I’ve forgotten about the defense — although Phoenix certainly has. Though they posted the 7th-best defense in the regular season (rating of 112.3), the Suns struggled in the postseason, finishing with a defensive rating of 118.3 that ranked 13th among playoff teams. While the Suns were supposed to shore up on that end of the floor — and they have, in a sense, with the hiring of Frank Vogel — the players will really have to step it up on that side in training camp. Otherwise, their opponents are going to have a field day no matter who’s in front of them.
All factors considered, the Suns have put together yet another star-studded team around Kevin Durant. As Noah Moyer pointed out in his article on the trade, Phoenix is trying to win a title when superteams are becoming a thing of the past, as the last three Finals matchups have featured teams that all built through the draft — the Warriors, Bucks, Suns, Nuggets, and Heat.
As it stands right now, the Suns have amassed an insane amount of scoring talent with their new “big three.” However, more work has to be done if they want to fortify their status as a threat in the West next season.
Grade: B
Thanks for reading! Leave your thoughts on the trade in the comments below.
