The NBA will always be treated as a business for teams, but players tend to grow ties with the organizations they plant their roots with.
Winning is the biggest goal for the top competitors around the league, and at times, when losing becomes a norm, players face tough decisions that lead them to see if an opportunity elsewhere could give them the chance to contend for a championship.
Bradley Beal found himself in this position, but quickly realized after landing with the Phoenix Suns that the grass wasn't greener on the other side, and he now finds himself as a free agent after a disastrous run in Phoenix led him to an injury-riddled season with the LA Clippers.
Similar to Beal's realization, Portland Trail Blazers' star Damian Lillard went through the same experience, where he quickly realized life outside of Portland wasn't all sunshine and rainbows with the Milwaukee Bucks, who opted to stretch and waive the guard months after a ruptured Achilles.
Lillard, though, made the best of his nightmare situation, returning to the place his career started as a free agent, and now, Beal can do the exact same.
Bradley Beal can follow Damian Lillard's blueprint
Lillard's hope to contend led him to request a trade, one that the Blazers eventually accepted, but instead of sending him to his preferred destination, Portland took the best package available, shipping the playmaker to Milwaukee.
After a couple of disappointing runs, the former lottery pick found himself as the odd man out, which set up the pathway for him to choose his next team.
Instead of signing with a contender, like the Boston Celtics, who showed strong interest, Lillard chose to return to the place it all started.
In the few years Lillard was gone, Portland managed to build one of the most intriguing cores in the league, and after their playoff run last season, it's clear that the Blazers are in a much better situation than when their franchise icon left.
For Beal, the same opportunity exists, with the Wizards looking like one of the biggest sleepers in the league heading into next season.
Washington has a young core headlined by reigning No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, a pair of superstars leading the way in Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and a revamped depth chart that's arguably deeper than any team in the league.
All that to say, if Beal is open to a return, not only would he have the chance to continue his legacy in D.C., but the opportunity to win is higher than ever.
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