Fans were surprised when Mike Budenholzer and the Phoenix Suns benched Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic ahead of Monday’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Not only were the fans shocked, but so was Beal himself. It caught him off guard, but he said he wouldn’t protest or become distracted. The 31-year-old is going to let things play out for now.

However, Beal said he was a starter and that nobody could take that away from him.

“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.”

Head coach Budenholzer said the roster changes were made because Phoenix had to change something to snap their four-game losing streak.

Rookie Ryan Dunn replaced the veteran in the starting rotation.

Despite being benched, Beal had a phenomenal game. He put up 25 points off 10/15 shooting, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. Not only that, but he did not turn the ball over once.

He led Phoenix in scoring and plus/minus.

Beal has played 24 games this season and averages 18.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there aren’t a lot of teams that want to unload their team for him, let alone give Jimmy Butler crazy money on top of it.

However, despite that, the Phoenix Suns are not only ready to trade pieces to get him but are ready to pay him whatever he wants to keep him in Phoenix long-term.

A two-year, $113 million extension is what the Miami Heat did not want to give Butler last offseason. Rumors are circulating that it’s coming down to money, and Mat Ishbia would be more than happy to pay it.

Windhorst says Butler wants to come to Phoenix and join Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro has said Bradley Beal would waive his No-Trade Clause for Miami.

“There’s only one team that’s ready to pay Jimmy Butler exactly what he wants and that’s the Phoenix Suns.” said Windhorst on First Take on Tuesday.

This season, the 35-year-old superstar is making $49 million. Next season, he will make $52 million if he opts into his player option.

Butler is currently serving a team-imposed seven-game suspension. Both sides will try to get a trade done; if not, Butler will honor his contract and play the remainder of the season.

“We are at a genuine stalemate,” said Windhorst. “I don’t know how it’s going to play out. The Heat are preparing internally for this to last past suspension. Not because they have some sort of sinister motive but because they know what offers they’ve gotten and they stink.”

In 22 games, Butler averages 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.

According to Chris Haynes, Jimmy Butler has made it clear that he is not interested in playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

There were a couple of teams Butler did not want to play for; Memphis was up there on that list. This comes after reports of him being willing to play “anywhere” but Miami.

The 35-year-old continues to seek a multi-year contract from a playoff-contending team. With that said, teams have dropped out of the race.

Most notably, the Golden State Warriors, who don’t want to empty their roster for one superstar.

Now, teams still want him—for example, the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. As of this time, per reports, Phoenix is the only team willing to give the money Butler is looking for.

This season’s trade deadline is February 6th. Butler is currently serving a team-imposed seven-game suspension, as it’s been made clear if no trade has happened by then, or when the deadline passes, he will continue playing for Miami and leave in free agency.

In 22 games, Butler averages 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.