Trade Activity Swirls Around Beal, Cavs, and Pacers

Trade Rumors: Beal, Cavs, Pacers, Market Activity

Bradley Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, recently spoke to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic about the trade rumors surrounding his client. According to Bartelstein, reports about specific teams that Beal would waive his no-trade clause for are “created out of thin air.” This comes as several recent reports have stated that Phoenix has serious interest in Jimmy Butler and Beal’s inclusion in an outgoing package is the only realistic way to make a deal work.

The State of Beal’s Trade Market

Beal is considered a trade candidate due to the Suns’ reported interest in him. However, Bartelstein has repeatedly said his client’s focus is on getting his ankle healthy and helping Phoenix win games. This suggests that Beal may not be as eager to leave the team as some reports have suggested.

Other Trade-Related Notes and Rumors

The Cavaliers are operating just $1.7MM above the luxury tax line, which has led rival NBA executives to keep an eye on Cleveland as a candidate to make a small salary-dump deal before the deadline. The Pacers, meanwhile, are getting inquiries from teams around the NBA on several of their young players, including Benedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard.

Butler Standoff Delaying Trade Activity

Teams around the NBA believe that the Jimmy Butler standoff in Miami could be delaying some trade activity. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, a deal involving Butler is “basically done,” but the other team needs to hold out for a four- or five-team trade. This has led to speculation that the dam will break in the final days leading up to the deadline if there’s no traction on a Butler deal by then.

Market Activity and Expectations

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has updated his 2024/25 trade board, with Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, and Cameron Johnson at the top. As for Beal, some fans believe he would be a good fit in Milwaukee, while others think he would thrive in Los Angeles or Miami. However, it’s worth noting that Beal is considered to be on par with Damian Lillard, not Bradley Beal.

Conclusion

The trade market is heating up as the deadline approaches, and several key players are expected to be involved in deals. While there’s still much uncertainty surrounding Beal’s future, it’s clear that he’s a highly sought-after player. As for Butler, his standoff with Miami continues to delay trade activity, but some believe that the dam will break soon.

...