NEWSLETTER
Bradley Beal could be on the move, according to multiple reports.
Recently hired president Michael Winger is seemingly considering a complete rebuild for the Washington Wizards organization. And a decision to move on from 29-year-old All-Star Bradley Beal could help jump ship start that process. Rumors have been swirling the past few days that this could be on the table, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski finally confirmed as much on Wednesday morning.
More specifically, Wojnarowski stated that Beal and his agent are staying in touch to discuss possible trades.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Joshua B Robbins also stated that the two sides will work together to find a deal if the Wizards opt for a rebuild this summer.
The reason that Beal is a part of these conversations is because he’s the only player in the NBA who currently has a no-trade clause in his contract. The Wizards – who paid him a massive five-year, $251 million contract last offseason – must get his full permission on any deal they agree upon. Of course, this could drastically shrink the list of possible landing spots, as Beal is presumably only interested in teams looking to contend for the postseason.
The Wizards are also waiting on Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Prozingis to decide on their player options for next season. Practically all signs have pointed toward both players opting out of those deals in pursuit of more money or security. Regardless of their decision, however, all of this recent smoke seems to suggest that a full-blown rebuild is far more likely than not for Washington.
This will be pretty significant news to watch as the NBA Draft nears next week. While Beal’s value around the league is unclear due to his significant price tag, there is no denying he remains one of the more lethal scorers in the league. Not to mention, the pressure of draft night and free agency can be immense. As teams miss out on prospects or signings, the idea of adding Beal into the mix could become that much more intriguing.
Let’s also not forget the impact this can have on other teams looking to enter sell mode. The Wizards would make the market that much more competitive by making Beal available and possibly looking for sign-and-trades for guys like Kuzma and Prozingis. This feels noteworthy for teams like the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls, who many have speculated could also look into a rather drastic change. In other words, teams attracted to the idea of adding DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine could also have interest in striking a deal with Washington.
UPDATE: The process is reportedly moving forward, with the Wizards granting Beal permission to speak with teams to which he may want to be traded. The Heat and Bucks are both name checked.
The Washington Wizards have granted star Bradley Beal and his representatives permission to speak with teams the three-time All-Star has interest in being traded to, league sources tell B/R.
Beal and the Wizards have agreed to work together on finding the guard a new home should the franchise choose to embark on a rebuild. Beal has not requested a trade, sources say.
It’s believed Beal will only consider teams with a chance to win.
