Bradley Beal has been one of the most talked about names in the NBA over the last few days since reports broke that the Washington Wizards were open to trading him and star point guard John Wall. Now, rumors can't stop flying around about which team could end up acquiring the deadly three-point threat.
Looking ahead at the upcoming few weeks, there are going to be even more rumors coming out. One team that has been mentioned in a lot of the trade rumors that are going around is the Los Angeles Lakers. It makes sense that they would be mentioned a lot with LeBron James being on board.
Taking an even deeper look at the potential fit between Beal and the Lakers, it makes for an even more intriguing thought process. There is no question that Beal would be a perfect fit with the Lakers and James.
One thing that James has needed everywhere he has been to win championships has been shooting. In Los Angeles right now, the Lakers simply do not have any lethal shooters who can also create their own shot. That is something that Beal could bring to the court immediately and would be able to take pressure off of James.
Throughout the 2018-19 NBA season thus far, Beal has averaged 21.8 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He has also shot 45.5 percent from the floor, although he has struggled from 3-point range at just 33.1 percent.
All of that being said, let's take a look at three reasons why Beal to the Lakers would be a perfect fit.
3. Deadly Spot-Up Shooting for LeBron
Bradley Beal makes his living off of 3-point shooting and would get even better looks with the Lakers. If he thinks he is open playing with Wall, James would be able to get him the easiest shots of his career.
It has happened time and time again with James. Lethal shooters find ways to get open while playing with him. Simply look at Ray Allen, Kyle Korver, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and many more to see that point.
Playing alongside James would also allow Beal to focus more on shooting rather than creating jumpers. He is more than capable of doing so when it's needed, but becoming more of a spot-up shooter would do him well.
2. More Than a Short-Term Investment
Not only would the Lakers be acquiring Beal to bring in a second star for James, he could also be a big part of the team's long-term future. At just 25 years old, Beal has plenty of time left to play basketball in his prime. Even after James' contract runs out, there is a decent chance that Beal could still be in town.
Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are not going to rush getting back to dominance. They know they need to move quickly, but they cannot afford to move too quickly.
Getting a guy like Beal would be the ideal way to build around James. Get pieces that help win now, but if James were to leave in a few years, the team would remain competitive.
Beal's asking price is likely not as high as many stars around the NBA as well. L.A. might be able to get him without having to give up more than one of their star young players. Brandon Ingram may be the guy it takes, but getting a talent like Beal doesn't come cheap.
1. Beal Fits the Mold to Take on the Warriors
Finally, the Lakers need to begin building to take down the Golden State Warriors and Beal fits that mold.
Not only can he shoot with the shooters that the Warriors have, he is a better defender than people give him credit for. That isn't saying that he's a lockdown defender, but he can help defend against Klay Thompson.
Beal thrives in the up-tempo style of offense that comes with playing the Warriors. James and the Lakers do not have a ton of guys that can play that brand of basketball.
Los Angeles is still a few pieces away from contending for an NBA championship. Beal isn't going to be the one piece that takes them over the hump and into title contention, but he would be a massive piece of the puzzle once they get there.
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