Latest Bradley Beal rumor further proves the Suns are stuck with him

Despite having some more spirited displays recently, this season is still going to go down as a massive disappointment for the Phoenix Suns. A campaign that promised so much, but that will instead be remembered for all of the highs that the franchise could not hit.

A recent win over the mess that is the Dallas Mavericks was a nice boost - and it may be that the struggles of other teams mean the Suns squeak into the play-in tournament - but this is a group that is unlikely to crack 40 wins. That should signal mass changes this summer, beginning with the likely trade of Kevin Durant.

Unfortunately for The Valley Bradley Beal is going nowhere.

It was rumored after the trade deadline had passed that the Washington Wizards of all teams gave serious consideration to bringing Beal back. This was confirmed on The All NBA Podcast - which you can view in full below - but with some interesting intel added to the end of the discussion. While the Wizards were certainly open to a trade - and the Suns obviously were too - Beal was not.

Although the potential to go back to the organization that drafted him to become their top scorer in franchise history was there for him, it is now clear that Beal prefers to stay in Phoenix above all else. Which is a disaster for the Suns - because although the thinking was that no other team in the league would want him - the fact the Wizards could be talked into it is massive for the Suns.

Only it is not, because Beal's unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause - which we kind of knew but has now been confirmed - means the Suns have to go in another direction in hopes of change. Which this season has shown us they have to do - only instead of maybe ditching Beal and continuing around Durant and Devin Booker - it is the 36-year-old Durant who will have to move on.

That brings with it its own set of issues however, as Phoenix appeared willing to end their partnership with Durant in favor of Jimmy Butler at the deadline too. The Golden State Warriors willing to bring the former superstar back, with the player himself shutting down any talk of a deal at the later stages. Butler went to San Francisco instead, and they have looked a much better team ever since.

In theory Durant doesn't hold all the cards in the same way Beal does, although it is also fair to point out that superstars dictate their next move in the NBA now more than ever. The fact he is entering the final year of his current deal next season only complicates matters, and likely ensures that the Suns won't get close to the haul they had to use to acquire him in the first place.

As for Beal? You better get used to the idea of him continuing his career in The Valley. Not because the Wizards wouldn't take him back - they somehow would although it would cost the Suns some draft picks too - but because he clearly doesn't want to go anywhere. Neither is this organization as long as he is clogging up their cap sheet.