Bradley Beal trade rumors: Wizards engaged in trade talks with Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, per report

The Washington Wizards have engaged in serious trade talks with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat regarding All-Star guard Bradley Beal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. It was recently reported that Beal and the Wizards would work together to find a trade partner for him, and the team gave the guard permission to talk to other teams in hopes of fostering a trade.

The Heat have long been a rumored suitor for Beal, but the Suns have recently become a serious contender, per Charania. Unlike most players around the league who have minimal say in where they’re traded to, Beal holds the league’s only no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he would have to give his approval before any trade happened.

It’s unclear what each team would be offering for Beal, but Miami likely has the better trade package to offer the Wizards. The Heat own most of their future first-round draft picks, with the exception of a top-14 protected pick it owes Oklahoma City in 2025. Miami could package several first-round picks with someone like Tyler Herro to bring in Beal, giving the Wizards future assets and a young guy who can get you 20 points a night. 

For Phoenix, the path to landing Beal is a bit murkier given their barren trunk of draft capital. After landing Kevin Durant ahead of the February trade deadline, the Suns are without a tradable first-round pick through 2029. And after including both Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson in that deal, Phoenix lacks valuable players that would be of interest to Washington, unless they want to take on Deandre Ayton, who has been mentioned in trade rumors for quite some time. Ayton would get a fresh start in D.C., and Beal would join a championship-contending team with Durant and Devin Booker. But that’s assuming Washington wants to take on Ayton. If the Wizards aren’t interested in him, then it’s unclear to see where a deal could be made unless Phoenix brings in a third team to get this trade done.