With free agency rapidly approaching the Washington Wizards could be looking to round out their roster, particularly around franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal. Luckily for them there is one player in the free agency pool that fits that description to a T.
The type of player that would fit Bradley Beal the most is a player who can move the ball, stretch the floor to a certain extent but doesn’t have to be elite, put pressure on the rim even as a shooter, and above all be an elite defensive presence.
While there are other ways to get a player like this, those being through a trade or in the upcoming draft, there are benefits to obtaining this style of player through free agency. They could save a trade for a better player at another position, and they can use their draft picks in another area of need.
Patrick Beverley fits the Washington Wizards roster like a glove
When it comes to point guards playing elite defense, Patrick Beverley is one of the first players to come to mind. There are countless clips of possessions that should have been a wide-open shot being thwarted by the relentlessness of Beverley on the defensive end of the floor.
While some like Russell Westbrook believe that he is doing nothing of value past running around, sometimes a little distraction goes a long way. It’s hard to argue with his results as the only time in his career that he’s missed the playoffs is this year when he was traded midseason to the Chicago Bulls.
There is also a noticeable difference for teams with him and without him. The Bulls started winning games and made a huge charge for the postseason before coming up short of the playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves also had a huge change as they had a strong culture and plenty of energy with the point guard and that was completely void of the team this past season.
The Washington Wizards are definitely a team that lacks energy and defense throughout the roster. Which is just one reason to add the defensive menace to the mix.
Not only would he improve the roster on defense, but he would also fit next to Bradley Beal on offense better than anybody else currently on the roster. Beal likes to carry most of the ball handling and distribution duties and needs a competent shooter next to him in the back court.
Beverley is also not overly ball dominant, he is also a player that can find space on the perimeter and make threes. For his career, he shoots 37.3% from beyond the three-point arc. He is also capable of bringing the ball up and finding players which would allow Beal to play more possessions off the ball which is where he is best.
To put the cherry on top, he is affordable for the Wizards. With Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis all projected to make over $20 million next season and Gafford also having a decent sized deal, they aren’t left with much money to spend and Beverley is likely only going to receive a minimum contract.
While he may not be the best free agent available, Patrick Beverley may be the best fit for the Washington Wizards. This seems like the best move for the team if the goal is to make the playoffs.