Bradley Beal Says Move To Bench Was A Surprise; He ‘Holds The Cards’ With Trades

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal addressed both Mike Budenholzer moving him to the bench, as well as trade rumors surrounding him. One caught Beal off-guard, while the other is something he has full control of.

“One-hundred percent,” was Beal’s answer when asked if he was surprised that Budenholzer was moving him to the bench.

“I’m a starter in the league,” Beal said. “I firmly believe that. I don’t believe that – no disrespect to anyone, but I’m a starter. That’s what I firmly believe. But Coach made his decision. I’m not gonna sit here and argue with it. I’m not gonna sit here and be a distraction. I’m not gonna sit here and be an a-hole. He made his decision. I live with it. He’s the coach, know what I’m saying? I just gotta go out and play my game, and whatever happens from there, happens from there.”

Budenholzer said the move was made, because the Suns had to do something different. He also said that the lineup change is not a temporary or “day-to-day thing”.

As far as trade rumors go, Beal knows that his no-trade clause allows him to control the trade process.

“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” Beal said about a potential trade away from Phoenix. “So, until I’m addressed and somebody says something differently, then I’ll be a Sun.”