Washington Wizards: is it time to move this former All-Star?

Why the Washington Wizards should look to trade Bradley Beal for young talent.

Bradley Beal, while he has been fantastic, is incapable of leading a team to a championship as the number one option. We have seen proof of this in recent years as he has incredible talent around him, and the team still sits below .500.

Beal is on a long-term contract, making his value go up because he is set to be with wherever he ends up for at least a few more years. Similar to the Rudy Gobert trade, where the Minnesota Timberwolves overpaid for the longer deal.

When John Wall was still in Washington, Beal was his second option and excelled in that role. He could easily return to this style of play with another high-quality point guard like Luka Doncic or even Cade Cunningham.

He is an elite three-point shooter off the catch and can also contribute some much-needed secondary ball handling duties. In addition, Beal is a capable finisher at the rim and has come a long way in terms of playmaking as well. Although, he still can’t lead a high caliber offense like Stephen Curry or LeBron James.

With Bradley Beal still being in his prime, and on a long-term deal, the Wizards would be able to demand a higher price of return than a player like LeBron James who is nearing 40, or Khris Middleton who could potentially be a free agent this summer.

The Washington Wizards could get a few young building blocks as well as a handful of picks for Beal if they elect to move him now. This is much better than the potential return if they trade him three years from now or even let him walk in free agency.