Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Breaking News

Bradley Beal Is Upfront About Selecting the Suns Over the Bucks

Then-Wizards player Bradley Beal expressed a desire to leave the organization and sign with a championship contender during the 2023 summer. The guard’s contract had a no-trade clause that allowed him to choose where he would go next. The Bucks were among the teams interested in signing the three-time All-Star. However, he stopped thinking about them as a possibility because of Milwaukee’s lack of loyalty.

The Suns star said on Theo Pinson’s Run Your Race Podcast that the Bucks were willing to deal Khris Middleton to the Wizards in order to acquire him, just two years after he was instrumental in the team’s NBA championship victory. He said this was unpalatable.

He stated: “[The Bucks] were trading Middleton… The loyalty part of that. Trading someone that won you a championship in the previous year, and was a key piece to y’all winning a championship, it ain’t sit right with me.”

After losing to the eighth-seeded Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the Bucks were eager to sign a player of superstar status. Although it would require dealing Middleton, they were prepared to make a move for the Wizards star.

Bradley Beal talks about his contract

The Bucks guard’s deal included a player option. For Beal’s transfer to Milwaukee to proceed, he would have needed to accept a sign-and-trade or opt into his contract. He wasn’t certain, though, that Middleton would have given either choice much thought. The star of the Sun said: “I don’t know many people going to opt in to willing get traded to D.C.”

The Bucks weren’t Beal’s first choice, which made the trade more challenging. When the Heat stalled and the Suns approached, the veteran chose to bring his skills to Phoenix instead. He stated: “[Kevin Durant] hit me ‘What’re we doing?’ [Devin Booker] hit me ‘What’re we doing?’ I didn’t get that nowhere else. It kinda felt like I was in college again, felt like I was getting recruited. I felt wanted.”

Beal was acquired by the Suns shortly after, creating a new Big 3 with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the former Wizards star. They were favored to win the title right away, but their performance fell short of expectations.

Advertisement

Subscribe to BSO Facebook

Advertisement