Following their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Washington Wizards have fallen to 11-13, even behind stellar play from their big three. With another losing season without coming close to the playoffs looking inevitable, is it time for the Wizards to finally move their star guard Bradley Beal?
There have been rumors of moving Beal for years, especially after his breakout season in 2019-’20 where he averaged 30 points per game, but the Wizards only won 25 games. He has yet to really lead the team anywhere as the clear top option on the roster.
Many of those rumors were put to rest when he signed a new contract this past offseason featuring a no trade clause, one of very few players to ever have one. This means if they were to move Beal, he would also have to agree to the trade.
Why would the Washington Wizards even consider moving their star player?
Bradley Beal is far from a fully rounded basketball player, his defense and playmaking have historically been questionable at best, and he’s never really been able to rebound at the level of other guards his height. Mix these with his three-point percentage dwindling since the John Wall injury, and his lack of All-Star appearances makes more sense.
He seems to be more of an off-ball player as his best seasons in terms of efficiency almost exclusively came along side Wall. His percentages have gone back up this season, but there are also more ball handlers on the roster.
Beal could be one of the best second options in the NBA in the right circumstances. However, he is likely never going to be in that sort of scenario in Washington until he is no longer effective as a star player.
His ability to catch and shoot or put the rock on the floor to create good looks from the rim make his skills valuable to any team looking to trade for him.
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.
Why the Washington Wizards should elect to hold onto Bradley Beal and keep building around him.
The big three of Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis has been elite this season. They have put up high scoring numbers in nearly every game they’ve played together and have even seen some success.
Breaking up this trio may be a mistake due to how dominant they have been together, especially the front court tandem of Kuzma and Porzingis. The biggest issue has been the surrounding cast and occasionally the defense.
If the Wizards focus on other trades, like a move including former lottery pick Rui Hachimura, or a larger package for elite defensive point guard Patrick Beverley. Both of these moves would improve the defense of the Wizards and potentially give them a better starting five.
Deni Avdija and his lack of being a scoring threat has also held back the team as opposing defenses give him about four different area codes when he goes for a three. He is only 21, though, so being patient with him is definitely the best option.
Due to his long-term connection with the team and how well he fits with the other stars on the roster, nobody would blame the Wizards for trying to build a contender featuring the high scoring shooting guard.
While his no trade clause may make it difficult to trade Bradley Beal, the option should still be on the table for the Washington Wizards. However, it is still justifiable for them to keep trying to make this team work.