Hello Hoops Heads! Here's the latest in NBA trade rumors.
NBA Trade Rumors: The Bucks may be considering trading for Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been rumored to be interested in upgrading at the trade deadline, but a surprising new report has them linked to a three-time All-Star. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Bucks are interested in Phoenix Sun star Bradley Beal.
Beal appears to be on the trading block, given that the Suns have been linked to Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, and the only way they can acquire him is to trade Beal in either a direct trade or a three-team swap. Milwaukee's reported interest is an interesting layer to a potential Phoenix and Miami trade involving Butler, with the Bucks being the potential third team.
One potential incarnation of a deal could include the Suns sending Beal to the Bucks and an unprotected 2031 first to the Heat for Butler. In turn, the Bucks could send Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis Jr. to the Heat along with a protected 2031 first.
That would be a tricky deal and would require them to trade Pat Connaughton first to get them closer to being in the first apron. That would make a trade for Beal more possible, and they would be able to aggregate salaries so long as they can shed enough salary in that potential deal.
NBA Trade Rumors: Raptors could be the key to a Jimmy Butler trade.
The struggling Toronto Raptors have been quiet thus far during the trade season but could soon make a move. According to Toronto Star writer Doug Smith, the Raptors are open to being the third or fourth player in a big trade, including a potential deal involving Jimmy Butler.
If Butler is traded to the Heat, odds are the Suns will need a third team to help them make the trade possible. Even so, the Suns literally only have one tradeable pick left, and that will be needed to be sent to the Heat. That might complicate things for the Raptors, but they also have expiring contracts.
That could turn out to be useful with Toronto possibly trading an expiring contract for another deal that runs longer than this season. That makes the Raptors a team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.