Sources – Suns completed trade for Wizards’ Bradley Beal

Sources said the deal could take a few days for the full framework to be finalized, but Bale is on his way to The Suns to form the new Big 3 with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, confirmed to ESPN that a framework was in place that would land Beal with the Suns.

“This was a very complex process with many different hurdles to get through, and Ted Leonsis and Michael Wenger were two incredible partners in making it happen,” Bartelstein told ESPN. “Since the day Ted drafted Brad he has been by our side [former general managers] Ernie Grunfeld and Tommy Sheppard. They’ve always had Brad back in everything and now we have exactly the same thing with Ted and Michael Winger. We are very grateful.”

Bell lifts the no-trade clause to adapt the deal to a Suns franchise that has now realized a sizable roster of talent and salary. Bale will join Booker, Durant and DeAndre Ayton – four contracts maximum with a looming collective bargaining agreement designed to severely limit roster flexibility beyond the $117 million luxury tax second apron. It’s the ultimate all-in game for the Suns to chase the championship.

Beal’s arrival and the remaining $207 million in his contract expect the Suns to be a minor league team for at least three years, which would leave them largely dependent on minimum contracts to fill the roster.

Sources said the Suns’ leadership along with key players on the team have been relentless in recent days selling Bell-on-Phoenix as a destination for their championship hopes.

Owner Mat Ishbia has committed heavily to salary and luxury tax on deals for Beal and Durant to pursue a title in seasons to come. The Suns will take home $163 million in salary for Booker, Durant, Beal and Ayton for the 2023-2024 season.

Sources said Bartelstein has worked closely with Wenger in closing a deal with Phoenix in recent days, and the talks have included talks with several teams. Peel’s no-trade clause proved to limit Washington’s options in the market for negotiating a return on the deal.

The Wizards will offload the last four years and $207 million of Beal’s contract, paving the way for Winger to reshape the roster after the franchise has missed the playoffs in four of the past five years – all of which have included losing seasons. The Suns had no first-round draft picks to include in the deal due to the Brooklyn Nets taking over from the Kevin Durant deal.

After 11 years with the Wizards — who drafted him #3 overall in 2012 — Bell is close to 30 and agreed with Winger that the franchise doesn’t have a fast-track to fix the dispute.

Once the Beal deal is completed, the Suns will have made two great trades in the past several months under Ishbia, including the Durant deal.

After completing the first season of a five-year, $251 million contract, Bell’s status as the only current NBA player to have a non-trade clause negotiated in his deal has given him the power to control not only potential destinations, but also how they package. His acquisition potential affected his new supporting cast.

Bell’s stipulation not to trade him would carry over to the Suns.

Leonsis Winger has given complete autonomy over whether he wants to pursue rebuilding with the Wizards or continue the course around high-priced veteran talent. The Wizards await player option decisions on forwards Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom can become unrestricted free agents.

Beal averaged 23.2 points on a career-best 51% shooting in 50 injury-plagued games last season. For his career, he averaged 22.1 points — including back-to-back seasons of 30.5 points and 31.3 points from 2019 to 2021.