This presupposes that the trade for Beal is the original roster construction problem in Phoenix that must be solved -- that under the new collective bargaining agreement, building a team around three max salary players, one of whom is performing far below a max level, is untenable.

Bradley Beal's contract is a problem as the NBA's trade deadline approaches. The Phoenix Suns guard is currently in the third season of a five-year, $251 million contract he signed with the Washington Wizards.