Suns have reportedly decided to bench Beal and Nurkic after recent failures.
The Phoenix Suns are set to make a bold call to turn around their struggling season. Amid a four-game losing streak and reported tension in the locker room, the team is set to bench Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic, according to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes. The Beal and Nurkic will start from the bench for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
In place of Beal and Nurkic, the Suns will start rookie wing defender Ryan Dunn and veteran big man Mason Plumlee. The franchise was forced to start Beal and Nurkic due to their hefty combined salary of $68.3 million this season. However, their presence on the court has pushed the Suns backward in recent games.
Bradley Beal is averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while Jusuf Nurkic has also struggled, contributing 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
The team currently sits 12th in the Western Conference standings with a disappointing 15-18 record through 33 games.
The Suns are reportedly exploring potential trades, including a strong interest in Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. However, a deal involving Beal would be complicated as the 31-year-old is on a supermax contract and would have to waive his no-trade clause to move to another franchise.
Meanwhile, finding a trade partner for Nurkic also would be a tedious task for the Phoenix due to his recent performances and the lack of draft assets available to attract teams.
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Following the 108-126 loss against the Pacers on Saturday, Beal had expressed his frustration over the team’s losing stretch, stating, “We’re definitely pissed off”.
“We’re not happy about it. It’s a good thing, though. You don’t guys smiling and happy and sh*t after four losses”, the 31-year-old said.
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