Butler wanted to play in Phoenix to team up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but Beal has a no-trade clause and wasn’t going to waive it unless the Suns found an ideal location for him to land.

The status quo for Bradley Beal is the same after the Phoenix Suns were unable to land Jimmy Butler ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. ESPN's

Wednesday's trade might have been a backup plan for both parties, and an expensive one. But Golden State thinks the risk could work.

Phoenix moves on from veteran center Jusuf Nurkić, dealing him and a 1st-round pick to Charlotte before the trade deadline.

Last month, the Suns traded Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte for 7-footer Nick Richards, who was a backup to Williams, and a second-round selection. Richards became the starting center in his second game with the Suns after posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in his Suns debut on Jan. 18 at Detroit.

The Phoenix Suns traded center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The former Trail Blazers center was sent to Phoenix before the 2023-24 season in the trade that brought Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland.