If Giannis Antetokounmpo opts to sign a five-year, $228MM super-max contract extension with the Bucks over these next few weeks, Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal will likely become the No. 1 target for the Heat, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.
Miami has diligently preserved cap space for the summer of 2021, when superstars such as Antetokoumnpo could reach free agency and ultimately meet with the team. The Heat did choose to sign centerpiece Bam Adebayo to a five-year extension and limit their cap space last week, with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo sharing the same agent.
Beal, 27, averaged a career-high 30.5 points per game this past season, shooting 46% from the floor and 35% from downtown. The Heat have several trade assets that could be used in a deal, including Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Kelly Olynyk. Antetokounmpo has yet to make a decision thus far.
There’s more from the Southeast Division tonight:
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington lists five questions for the Wizards entering training camp this week. John Wall reportedly requested a trade earlier this month, with general manager Tommy Sheppard recently downplaying the report and insisting their relationship remains intact. Besides Wall, the team must also decide who to start at small forward next season, with Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Troy Brown Jr. being the most likely candidates.
- Josh Robbins of The Athletic examines whether the Magic tend to overvalue their own players. Orlando finished with the eight-best record in the Eastern Conference at 33-40 last season, losing point guard D.J. Augustin to Milwaukee in free agency. The team retained Evan Fournier after he exercised his $17.15MM player option, however, with the 28-year-old averaging a career-high 18.5 points per game last season.
- Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer explores the implications from the Hornets agreeing to a four-year, $120MM deal with Gordon Hayward, breaking it down from a cap and roster perspective. Charlotte officially acquired the former NBA All-Star in a sign-and-trade with the Celtics on Sunday.
Nets have much better assets to trade for Beal than Heat such as 4 future Firsts
Heat have no available Future First to trade
Some reporters suggest that Wizards trade Beal and keep Wall, and Rockets trade Harden and keep Westbrook
…. because no one really love Wall and WB contracts
As much as no one really loves Westbrook’s contract (allegedly), it’s still way better than Chris Paul’s. They’re both making $85.6M over the next two seasons, then Russ is also getting another $47M for the 2022-23 season.
Even if CP3 doesn’t retire in 2022 no one is paying him anything close to $47M, he might get a small fraction of that assuming he is still capable of playing basketball at the age of 37 with those worn out hamstrings of his.
DJ Augustin wasn’t Orlando’s starting PG, he lost his spot to Fultz 12 games into the season.
They filled that back up PG spot with Cole Anthony + re-signed Michael Carter-Williams.
Fultz started 60 games. Augustin 13.
Beal would be perfect in Miami. No way Wizards let him walk.