This presupposes that the trade for Beal is the original roster construction problem in Phoenix that must be solved -- that under the new collective bargaining agreement, building a team around three max salary players, one of whom is performing far below a max level, is untenable.

The NBA trade deadline draws closer by the day, and as always, the transaction cycle remains headlined by the same small group of players. On Monday, the Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler indefinitely after he walked out of a shootaround upon receiving the news that he would be benched.

LeBron James is the other. It’s no secret that the Suns want disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. Beal would need to be sent out in that trade, but the Heat reportedly don’t want him. That means a potential Butler trade to Phoenix has to be a multi-team deal where Beal goes to an approved location.