Wiz of Awes
Fansided

A Warning to the Washington Wizards Front Office: Don’t slip into old habits

By Jack Skolnik

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: (L-R) Anthony Gill #16, Russell Westbrook #4, Russell Westbrook #4 and Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a play from the bench during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 1, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Wizards defeated the Timberwolves 130-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: (L-R) Anthony Gill #16, Russell Westbrook #4, Russell Westbrook #4 and Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a play from the bench during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 1, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Wizards defeated the Timberwolves 130-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Washington Wizards Bradley Beal. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Washington Wizards Bradley Beal. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Final Thoughts for the Washington Wizards Front Office

Bradley Beal is a great player. An all-time scorer who has expanded his game more over the past few seasons than just about 99 percent of the league. So I do not want anybody to think that this is an indictment on him.

The Washington Wizards do not have the talent, the cap sheet, or the competence, to continue attempting to build around Bradley Beal. That’s it. Sound familiar? 

So, with that, Tommy Sheppard absolutely cannot fall into a thought process predicated on a false hope that continues to plague this franchise. This team, as currently constructed, is not a role player away from the Finals.

Fans and media members have been firing up the Bradley Beal trade machine (again), and maybe it’s time for some of those trade machine scenarios to come true. However, the likelihood of the Wizards trading Beal imminently is fairly low. Not impossible, though. It could be a lot more likely if the Wizards are still 14th in that standings by the trade deadline.

As sad as it is to say, my concern is not as much about losing (or holding onto) Bradley Beal as it is about the possibility that Tommy Sheppard could potentially send us deeper into mediocrity.

Tommy has not done this yet, and there is a chance that he will not, but the PTSD is beginning to kick in. The Grunfeld flashbacks have begun.

Making a short-term move would be something that completely echoes the old regime’s actions, a strategy that Sheppard has said he has tried to get away from.

Wizards should reconsider a Bradley Beal trade. dark. Next

But, if Sheppard wants to continue to claim that Brad is his guy, and if he wants to win with him at all costs, then the Wizards could be taking nose dive into the NBA purgatory that they are already creeping towards.

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