The Bradley Beal trade rumors are swirling. According to Bleacher Reports Jake Fischer, “Bradley Beal is weighing whether to request a trade from the Washington Wizards.” Fischer also added that a source close to Beal said “he knows he has to make a decision before the draft.” So a request would likely come this week, if it were to come at all. So why now for Beal? Why has a trade demand never come? Who are the most likely suitors?
The Washington Wizards have been in a state of mediocrity ever since they were eliminated in game 7 of the 2017 second round by the Boston Celtics. They have only made the playoffs twice, both as an 8th seed, and had a winning record only once, going 43-39 in 2018. They have a combined record of 134-174 over the past 4 seasons, which is a winning of .435. That is so mediocre. They made a blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trade in December (Westbrook did have a good season, and a Beal trade would likely lead to a Russ trade). They finished below .500 and needed a miracle run at the end of the season to get into the play-in tournament where they clinched a playoff spot. The offense when Beal sits is bad, the defense is nearly always bad, and they just do not have very good players. The Wizards are stuck in the middle. Not good enough to win a championship, but not bad enough to bottom out. It is the worst spot to be in, you do not win anything and do not pick high enough to get the transcendent talent to help you get to the mountain top. However, Beal has stuck in Washington through it all, he even signed a contract extension, why?
Bradley Beal wants to win and he feels like it would be that much more fulfilling to do it with the Wizards. As ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on the Woj and Lowe Special “some players want to find reasons to leave, others find reasons to stay, Beal has found reasons to stay.” He wants to get it done as a Wizard so badly, he loves the organization, the people in the organization, and Washington D.C. However, the dude wants to win and that seems like it might not happen in the District of Columbia. How can the Wizards find a way to build a winner around Bradley Beal?
The Wizards have a new coach in Wes Unseld Jr., and he seems like a really good hire so that is a start. The first roster thing Washington should do is figure out the wing spot. They keep putting out guys like Garrison Matthews, Troy Brown Jr., rookie Deni Avdija, Jordan McRae (who is out of the NBA), 33-year-old Trevor Ariza, and Isaac Bonga. That is not good enough, they need a very good player, maybe a guy who can flirt with an All-Star team, and that seems very unlikely, but they can bring in mid level guys like Danny Green, Justise Winslow, and Josh Richardson but that likely keeps you in the 7-10 play in tournament range. A Westbrook deal seems like the most likely solution but what value does he bring back? What would Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans, Deni Avdija, and picks get you? It is not a good spot for Tommy Shepherd to be in and blowing it up might be the best solution.
Teams would line up for Bradley Beal. Let me start by saying this, the Celtics should not trade Jaylen Brown for Bradley Beal. Now in January I wrote about how the Pelicans should pursue Bradley Beal. However, Beal is a free agent in 2022 and moving Brandon Ingram and a bunch of picks for a season of Bradley Beal does not seem like a really smart move for David Griffin to do right now. The Thunder own the most future draft capital of any team but again a year of Bradley Beal is not worth any of those picks when you are probably going to stink next season. The Sixers have an intriguing offer of Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, 2022, 2026, and 2028 unprotected first round picks, and a pick swap in 2027 (the Sixers would need to make the 2024 pick they owe to Oklahoma City unprotected to make this trade possible). That is a deal Washington would need to take a long look at. The Warriors could offer Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the 7th pick, the 14th pick, 2026 and 2028 unprotected first round picks, and a pick swap in 2027 (like the Sixers, Golden State would need to make their 2024 pick they owe to Memphis unprotected). Those two offers are likely the best Washington would receive, unless the Knicks offered R.J. Barrett and picks, though I am not sure I would throw the kitchen sink at Washington after just one season making the playoffs. The Heat could offer Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson (via sign and trade), cap fillers, and picks to the Wizards but I would rather have what Philly and the Warriors are offering.
Bradley Beal has stuck it out in Washington but should he continue to? I say no, but I have said no since he was extension eligible in 2019. He has been as loyal as any player in the league but unlike some of those other guys, the Wizards have not made it worthwhile. It is time for a change for both sides and I think a trade should come, but it probably will not and Beal will hit free agency in 2022.
NOTE: As I was editing this blog. Woj tweeted that the Pelicans and Grizzlies made a trade. New Orleans trades Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, the 10th pick, the 40th pick, and a 2022 protected first round pick to Memphis for Jonas Valanciuas, the 17th pick, and the 51st pick. It is a home run deal for the Pelicans. David Griffin made a mistake last offseason in acquiring Steven Adams from the Thunder and Eric Bledsoe, who came from the Bucks in the Jrue Holiday trade, had a disastrous season, so he moved back in the draft to get off of those players and also acquired quality big man in Valanciunas to better space the floor for Zion Williamson, and hey, the Pelicans now have cap space to go pursue Kyle Lowry which they are reportedly interested in doing (though I think they should keep Lonzo Ball). For Memphis, they get to move up into the top 10 and add another really good player next to Ja Morant. Steven Adams can slide right in as Morant’s pick and roll partner, a role Valanciunas has played very well in the past few seasons and Eric Bledsoe can be Ja’s backup.
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