High-scoring Wizards star Bradley Beal hasn’t issued a trade request yet, but a report this morning that he’s considering it has the rest of the league ready to pounce. Washington is in a precarious position with Beal, who can decline his $36.4MM player option next summer and become an unrestricted free agent.
Beal is said to be considering that the Wizards may start a rebuilding process if they decide to move him, which is no doubt why the report was leaked on the weekend before the draft. Beal would like to join a contender, and sources identified the Warriors, Celtics, Heat and Sixers as possible trade destinations.
Golden State is in the best position if Washington wants draft picks in return. The Warriors hold the No. 7 and No. 14 selections in this year’s lottery and may be willing to part with last year’s No. 2 pick, center James Wiseman, to get their hands on Beal, who is reportedly at the top of their wish list. Andrew Wiggins would likely have to be included to match salary.
In Boston, Beal would be able to unite with his close friend and fellow St. Louis native Jayson Tatum. Washington may ask for Jaylen Brown in return, but the Celtics would be reluctant to part with Brown when they can open enough cap space to sign Beal in 2022. Al Horford‘s $27MM salary would go a long way toward matching purposes, and he is only guaranteed $14.5MM for 2022/23 if he is released before the start of that season. Boston could load its offer with future picks and possibly arrange a sign-and-trade involving free agent guard Evan Fournier, who plays the same position as Beal.
The Heat are at a disadvantage when it comes to draft assets, not holding any picks this year and having future first-rounders tied up as a result of trading a protected 2023 pick. Miami has team options on Goran Dragic ($19.44MM) and Andre Iguodala ($15MM), who can both help with salary matching, but young assets such as Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn may not be enough to interest the Wizards.
The Sixers would almost certainly have to move Ben Simmons in a trade for Beal, either to Washington or to someone else in a multi-team deal. Philadelphia is also low on draft assets, but throwing in young players such as Matisse Thybulle or Tyrese Maxey could appeal to Washington.
We want to get your input. Do you believe Beal will be moved this summer and where do you think he should go? Please leave your responses in the comments section.
If Celtics don’t offer Brown and Heat don’t offer Bam, Warriors would have the best offer
Simmons is Brick and Westbrook is also Brick. Two bricks can make of a house but not a team.
Agree. And if either of those players leave their respective teams, Beal isn’t pushing them over any line.
To get Beal
Celtics offer Fournier and Horford
Heat offer Dragic and Iguodala
Both teams have young role players to attach
Knicks and Spurs are likely to sign Duncan Robinson and Nunn
Celtics aren’t getting Beal for Fournier and Horford, nor is Miami for two players past their prime.
And while in name Duncan Robinson makes sense for the Spurs to sign him, they have a full backcourt and will be entering a rebuild.
That is a terrible offer for a top 15-20 NBA player. No way the wizards take EF and Hortford.
The truth is the Warriors just don’t have enough to get Beal, unless they offered Curry.
Now that is funny. Let me put it this way Curry is worth more than the entire team the Wizards have.
You forget they have Bertans? Yeah…think again.
The Latvian Lazer!
Wow hook me up with the guy that sells you what your smoking. I think more than the 2 picks is an overpay except they have no path to paying him. Either WAS is good this season with enough improvement to get him to sign an extension otherwise he leaves for nothing next summer. This is about WAS getting something from him leaving with him not wasting another prime year.
The actual “truth” is the Warriors have more than enough. If Beal gets moved it will be to Golden State. Otherwise he stays in Washington until he hits free agency.
Westbrook will be traded that is why Beal is considering asking for a trade. Simmons for Beal is probably the most realistic trade base.
Nobody would offer good draft pick package for Westbrook so they have to keep him
Traded to who? No one has cap room for him, nor do they want to overpay for bricks.
I’m sure it’s possible, but I cannot imagine a team trading for an aging, declining, hyper-expensive brick machine like Westbrook. Watch me get proven wrong like tomorrow, but imo, Wizards are stuck with him.
Yeah the whole “Beal is considering a TR bc Westbrook might be traded” strikes me as more of a PR move than a genuine opinion.
I think Curry and/or Draymond probably hit him up and said something to the effect of “We can win a ring with you but you need to request out this week.”
Westbrook played as well as he’s played since 2017 down the stretch and this team still topped out as 8-seed cannon fodder. Beal knows they’re going nowhere regardless.
What kind of house only has 2 bricks, Shakespeare??
3pt all player average 36%
Starters
Westbrook and Advija can’t shoot 32% and Rui can’t shoot 33%
Wizards would have to rely on Simmons to shoot from the three so Wizards can make playoffs
How abt beal stays and bring westbrook to boston for tatum
Lol that’ll never happen.
How about you trade me the Arc of the Covenant for my toe nail clippings?
Boston would be on fire if that occurred. And rightfully so.
I don’t know man, I mean “No thank you for Westbrick” but … Tatum seems to be all about himself and his numbers … His biggest complaint when the NBA season ended? No, not that the C’s got ruined over in the first round of the play offs or that they seriously underachieved this season. No, Tatum was all afire about not being selected at one of the top 15 players in the league (cost him a pretty penny contractually) but see- me me and more me. That AIN’T Celtics basketball man. When Larry Joe signed, he was just happy to be playing ball and having enough money to fill his garage with cases of beer… Ah, fore the “good old days” when men wore bikini briefs on the court and actually disliked players on opposing teams …..
Immediate dismissal and psych eval for Stevens.
If Steph Curry and Draymond Green, two of the highest IQ players of all-time say “this is our guy” then that guy should probably join and win 5 rings with them.
Trade centered around Beal for Simmons is the best for both teams.
Maybe if Simmons remembers how to shoot a basketball first….
To me that would be a fair trade. Simmons with westbrook could work and Beal in Philly gives the scoring them missed in the playoffs.
How does Simmons with Westbrook work? Westbrook needs to be surrounded by scorers who can create their own shot and hit open jumpers so he’s not handling the ball the entire game like he had to in OKC (Note his mini-resurgence when he was with Harden in Houston). Simmons on the court puts more of a burden on Westbrook.
No way, they both need the inside to be effective so they do not complement each other. I’m sure there is a monumental brick joke out there for if they are on the same team but it is beyond my power to think of it.
“Remembers” insinuates that he was once able to.
Yeah of the 4 teams mentioned it’s Philly or GSW. Brown’s arguably better than Simmons right now but Simmons’ still has the higher ceiling (probably), and is more marketable as a “franchise” guy.
Between PHI/GS I guess it depends on if you’d prefer a 19/20yr old Wiseman or a 25 yr old Simmons. I think Simmons is a huge risk—but if you think he just needs a change of scenery and personnel, and you’re middling mid market franchise like Washington, it might be worth the dice roll.
I don’t even see how Miami can make an offer without Bam. Another team that could make a lucrative offer is New Orleans but not sure there’s mutual interest.
The only way he doesn’t end up with GSW is if he flexes on everyone, and says “dish me to X team….or else I opt out no matter what!” Should be interesting………..
All these team might be interested by it’s about what do you have to offer for the Wizards.
GSW and Philly have enough to be in the conversation. Miami you don’t have enough assets and Boston in all honesty just keep Brown. He’s developing really well and his defence is needed you can’t just have scorers in Beal and Tatum, you need some defence.
For the Sixers Beal seems more likely than Dame and he’s better than a McCollum, Ingram or LaVine. I’d be fine with giving up Simmons Thybulle and 2 firsts possibly even a third. That’s a very solid offer.
Best GSW would do is Wiggins Wiseman 7th 14th and a future first. That’s the best from them. Now Wiseman that’s solid and 7 that’s a good pick but Wiggins deal ain’t great and 14 could be anything.
No matter which team they choose, That would then mean trading Russ also, which also ain’t going to be easy. Lakers have already shown interest and are said to be willing to give up Schroder Kuzma and THT. So that’s the bench mark can anyone else beat that? I don’t think so.
So that means Wizards next season look something like:
Ben Simmons Schroder Thybulle THT Avdija Kuzma Hachimura Bertans Bryant the 15th pick in the draft and then 2/3 firsts from Philly.
Might be able to flip Schroder at the deadline for a first, and flip Bertans for a first. You’d be loaded with a lot of young talent just need scoring 3 and quality 5
I think you’re on the right path from Philly’s POV. But Golden State is making a push now and I wonder if Morey will want to wait it out until it’s too late.
Theoretically he could hop in and try and make it a 3-way. Simmons+Thybulle to GSW, Beal to Philly, Wiseman-Wiggins-7/14 to Washington.
Both Celtics and Heat can only offer 25 cent for 1 dollar
Celtics
Pritchard and Nesmirh
Heat
Herro and Archiuwa
Salary matching has negative value
More media trying to get a player traded. FAKE NEWS.
Wiggins Wiseman Poole 7 14 would be trade I would target if I’m the wizards
If he went to Real Madrid, he might have a good chance at a title next year
76ers, so the wolves have a chance at Simmons.
Beal to Toronto for a package centred around Siakam
No surplus value in Pascal
According to whom?
Philly Philly Philly Philly
Easy to see a 3rd team get involved here but that’s his best landing spot today
I’m hopeful Morey can figure it out and land Beal. It seems that a third team may have to be involved(maybe Portland). Beal to Philly, McCollum to Washington and Simmons to Portland seems to have potential. Obviously, other assets would have to go to Washington but this at least seems like the framework of a deal that may work for all.
Assuming the Celtics won’t trade JB, GSW clearly has to be the fav to land him. That being said, it would appear, on the surface anyway, he wants to play with Tatum.
I don’t see him pulling a Harden and publicly declaring it, but behind closed doors. If that’s the case GSW isn’t putting that offer on the table only for him to leave 1-2 years. GSW can’t keep spending the way they have, a reset is inevitable and with steph needing an extension next year, I don’t see how they keep steph, Beal, Klay and green.
I say he ends up in Boston. Weather this year as a trade or FA next year. And trading for him won’t be as complicated as others have made it seem. S&T involving Fournier with a third team and TT would be the most obvious but if they decide to involve Smart or Timelord that would make the path all that much easier.
If the Wiz are indeed trading Westbrick to LAL, then Beal isn’t sticking around. Why would he want to do that?
Simmons > Wolves
Beal > Sixers
#28, 2 future Sixer 1sts, 2 Wolves 1sts, Beasley, Rubio, Culver/Okogie.
Unless Beal forces the issue, the Wizards should keep him. He’s not old by any stretch. They can run it back with Russ, or if they move Russ to LA they can see how it goes with the return. If Beal leaves, they could have a pretty good cap situation in a few seasons.
If Beal leaves they got nothing for him. Just like KD leaving Okc and Kawhi leaving Toronto. Except no championship parade in Washington.
Hypothetically Beal-Bam-Butler is a contender, and a Beal-Embiid pairing would be in the running as well. Beal-Tatum is interesting but probably a notch lower.
But I think the best situation is clearly in the Bay. A foursome of Steph, Klay, Beal, and Draymond has the best 3 year window to win a ring. Especially next year with Kawhi and Murray both out extended periods, Portland and Utah in turmoil, and Phoenix most likely running it back with a 37 yr old PG. Lakers and Warriors would have to be favorites.
The caveat being Klay has to be Klay when he returns.
Everyone is against super teams but wants him to go to the warriors to create a super team
I simply think what the Warriors can offer is the most attractive package of players and picks to a team that would be rebuilding if they traded Beal.
BOS gets: Beal
WSH gets: Fournier,Smart,Langford and picks
That sucks big time ! Big time ! Your clippers and the lakers can get in the game easily if that’s the kind of offers wizards ! Get that package you listed should only be good enough to get someone like Steven Adams
Olympics just showed that having a bunch of scorers do not make you a good team. They had the better scoring players than France but it did not matter when the other team is balanced. Warriors need to take notice and say NO to a Beal trade.
As a wizards fan there are only a few deals the fan base will accept trading a top player in the last decade. Take either of these deals or make moves to make him think about staying.
GSW- wiseman, Wiggins, 7&14( no to future picks as they will be useless for about 3-5 years).
Boston- jaylen brown and a pick and young player(nesmith/Langford)
Not too many options for Washington but just giving up Beal is dumb IMO. Westbrook and others can be used to further the rebuild. I wouldn’t mind Russ staying and adding shooter and young guys but the wizards haven’t shown the ability to make moves in such a manner.
I see what you’re saying but Beal could just walk and you don’t want that. You have the discussion with him and then you make your move. If he commits to staying verbally then you keep him & sign again next summer or to an extension now. If there’s questions you must deal him in the next 2 days. Can’t let him walk for nothing.
The Warriors obviously have the best package of any team. They can give up the most without releasing a key player. Sure Boston’s package is nice but do you really want to trade away Jaylen Brown?
Heck, if Boston really is willing to do that.. if I’m the Warriors make a call to Celtics brass and see what it takes to get HIM LOL. But there’s no way other teams give up a core player just to bring in a different core player in Beal. Right now the Warriors have the best package for a trade for a star. End of story.
Yeah that’s interesting with Brown—he’d arguably be an even better fit as a 3 next to Klay, esp if Klay isn’t up for the tough defensive assignment every night.
Because you’re absolutely right—in a vacuum if Wiggins Wiseman 7/14 gets you Beal, then why couldn’t it get you Brown, who almost anyone would agree isn’t quite as good as Beal?
Obviously in the context of what Boston is trying to do that might not be palatable. But it could be an instance of one step back two steps forward, especially given Boston’s lack of depth. Slotting Wiggins with Tatum, developing Wiseman under Horford, drafting two perimeter prospects with 7 & 14 … that would be an intriguing route for Boston to take.
I know Ainge would never do it. But Stevens might, who knows?
If they don’t like the return why can’t they let him walk for nothing? I don’t understand the thinking. I’d rather have the clear cap than a collection of players I maybe sorta am okay with.
It’s because most teams don’t have cap space anyway. You let Beal walk and you’re still at the cap or close to it. There’s not suddenly 25 or 30 million in cap space except for very few teams that are run tight like that.
You lose Bradley Beal for nothing and you can’t replace him. You’re not going to sign a big free agent in Washington and you lose the picks you could have received in trade. Just look at their biggest free-agent Acquisitions lately, Davis bertans and Robin Lopez I think. Just as OKC let Durant walk for nothing because they were misled by his uncertain about future comments, Washington will be suffering for years if they don’t trade Bradley Beal and just let him walk.
Fortunately for OKC they acquired Paul George in a trade with Indiana and were able to recoup a lot of assets when they traded Paul George to the Clippers. Washington Wizards have no such future.
Assuming Beal isn’t extended and Russ is gone, the Wizards only have 25m committed in salary for ’23 & ’24. Bertans and Deni are really it. To me that preferable to taking a package I am not fully invested in.
True. If you look that far ahead then yes you’re correct. I see what you’re saying.
As a Wiz fan I don’t love any of the trade options. That said…we have to move him because we can’t get nothing in return. I would talk to the Raptors and see if they would trade #4 for 7 & 14. If they are game then I think I would do it. If not, I’d work out a deal with the Sixers around Simmons, Thybull and picks. Then make the rumored Westbrook to Lakers deal.
To answer the article… Beal’s best fit for his playing style and team fit.. is the Miami Heat. Realistically.. it can’t happen unless he demands it and says he will opt out with any other franchise.. there’s no way the Wizards trade him within their own division.