The Phoenix Suns (16-19) begin their first of a three-game homestand against the Atlanta Hawks (19-18) on Thursday.

Charles Barkley called Bradley Beal rightfully petty, criticized Devin Booker's leadership and spoke more on the Suns' trade interest in Jimmy Butler.

It would have been easy to assume the Phoenix Suns' decision to bench Bradley Beal was done in part to motivate him to waive his no-trade clause ahead of

Bradley Beal is not succumbing to the outside noise or supposition that the Phoenix Suns are trying to play mind games with him. Instead, he's refusing to budge

It’s understandable that Beal was caught off-guard. He has been advertised as one leg of this big three in Phoenix since the moment he waived his no-trade clause about a year and a half ago to approve a trade out of Washington.

PHOENIX -- Amid a flurry of trade rumors surrounding his name, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal finally broke his silence. When asked if his recent benching was due to a potential move, Beal offered the following: "If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards. Until I'm addressed and somebody says something different, I'll be a Sun."

Receiving major bench contributions from both Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen, the Phoenix Suns won 123-115 over the Atlanta Hawks. Beal led the Suns (17-19) with 25 points and both Allen and Kevin Durant scored 23 apiece.

Learn how Bradley Beal's powerful statement highlights his role as the Suns' Sixth Man and potential key to acquiring Jimmy Butler.

San Francisco, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and forward Kevin Durant (35) react to a call by referee Brett Nansel (44) during the fourth quar

With the Suns being linked to Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal's agent took a second to address the trade rumors surrounding the star guard.

The Phoenix Suns' starting lineup change comes amid rumors of the team putting the three-time All-Star Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic in trade talks.