By all accounts, the Phoenix Suns were desperate to move Beal in a deal for Jimmy Butler, but the bulky contracts involved and second-apron restrictions made negotiations difficult. And that was before taking Beal's no-trade clause into account, which allowed him to control his fate.

Beal's no-trade clause, which the Wizards included in his contract back in 2022, proved to be the biggest challenge in Phoenix trying to find Beal a new home.

Suns star Bradley Beal is often described as having the worst contract in the NBA. But even for a guy with such a heavy presence on the payroll, at least two teams were willing to take him this season: the Wizards and Hawks.