NBA Rumors: Bradley Beal, Bucks Link 'Nonexistent' Amid Jimmy Butler, Suns Trade Buzz

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly not interested in acquiring Bradley Beal despite rumors to the contrary.

"Contrary to popular belief, I was just informed that the Milwaukee Bucks have not inquired about Phoenix Suns' star Bradley Beal," NBA reporter Chris Haynes said Wednesday. "In fact, it was explained to me that a connection between the two is nonexistent. So if Phoenix is able to acquire Jimmy Butler, it would not come via the Bucks taking on the star guard."

That comes after Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic on Wednesday that any reports suggesting Beal would waive his no-trade clause in deals involving the Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers were "created out of thin air."

"The part of the business that every player dreads is having no control over his future when it comes to trades, and so the fact that we have control of that aspect of Brad's career is something that is extremely precious and is an asset that we certainly would never want to relinquish," he added. "Having said that, I never operate in terms of absolutes, meaning that we would never say there would never be a trade that you would not consider. You always keep an open mind like everyone does in all aspects of their life, and so if something was to come around that you were truly excited about, you always have to consider those things."

Now, however, it sounds as though the Bucks aren't among the teams interested in Beal. And frankly, such a pairing never made much sense.

On the court, a Beal and Damian Lillard backcourt would have been skewered defensively, putting a ton of pressure on rim-protectors like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Hiding one player on defense in the playoffs is difficult enough—trying to hide your entire starting backcourt is basically parting the seas for the opposing team.

But the Bucks would also had needed to match $50.2 million salary in a trade for Beal, meaning they would've either needed to move Khris Middleton and other pieces or dealt the trio of Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton, nuking their depth in the process.

It just never quite added up for the Bucks. And even if they decide they do need to shake things up around Antetokounmpo and Lillard, it sounds as though they'll be exploring other avenues to do so.