Beal: Suns weren't even in picture as Wizards looked for trade partner

Bradley Beal says the Phoenix Suns weren't even in the picture when the Washington Wizards were looking to deal the three-time All-Star last summer.

Beal was on vacation in New York with his family and was taken aback when his agent called him to gauge his interest in joining the Suns.

"I said, 'Is that even an option? How are they going to do that? Are they going to trade (Devin Booker)?' That makes no sense," Beal said Tuesday on Theo Pinson's "Run Your Race" podcast. "He said, 'No, they have other pieces, where it's (Chris Paul), (Deandre) Ayton, or whatever. They said they'll do it."

The idea of teaming up with Booker and Kevin Durant sounded great, but Beal wanted to make sure this was what the Suns duo wanted.

An hour after speaking with his agent, Beal's doubts were put to rest as both Booker and Durant reached out to him.

"It kind of felt like I was in college again, like I was getting recruited. I felt wanted," Beal said.

The Suns' brass flew out to New York the next day to meet with Beal, and a trade with the Wizards was completed one day later.

Beal struggled to stay healthy during his first season in Phoenix. He averaged 18.2 points, five assists, and 4.4 rebounds across 53 appearances.