The Phoenix Suns are expected to take Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic out of Monday’s starting lineup when they face the Philadelphia 76ers, reports NBA Insider Chris Haynes.
Rookie Ryan Dunn and veteran big man Mason Plumlee will be in the opening lineup instead, Haynes adds.
Phoenix is currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak, which has added to the tension in the locker room, per Haynes.
After Tuesday’s 117-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Suns star Devin Booker acknowledged that the team was feeling the mounting pressure. “Frustration level’s high,” he said postgame.
Beal is in the third season of a five-year, $251-million contract and has a no-trade clause. The three-time All-Star is having his worst statistical season since the 2015-16 campaign, averaging just 17.8 points and 3.1 assists while possessing 48/39.2/76 shooting splits. Beal also has Pheonix’s worst plus-minus per 100 possessions (minus-11.5).
Beal has been linked to the Miami Heat as a possible trade chip to acquire the Heat’s disgruntled star, Jimmy Butler. The six-time All-Star has been suspended from the team for seven contests after he and his representatives made it known that he wished to be traded. Since the Suns are above the second tax apron, they can’t combine contracts to make a trade, meaning they’d have to move one of Beal, Booker, or Kevin Durant to acquire Butler.
The Suns have also reportedly been shopping Nurkic, eyeing Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and Washington Wizards big man Jonas Valanciunas as possible replacements, among other players. Nurkic is in the third season of a four-year, $70-million contract.
Nurkic has struggled mightily this season, averaging just 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting 45.2% from the field, the third-worst field goal percentage of any 7-foot center in the league with at least ten games played.
Phoenix is 12th in the West with a 15-18 record.
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