The Washington Wizards made headlines early Thursday morning, as they reportedly secured NBA All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal's services on a two-year, $72 million extension. This is a very clear indication from the Wizards that they have every intention of moving forward with Beal as the centerpiece of their plans, fending off myriad trade rumors that predicted the 26-year-old's move away from the nation's capital.
With Beal now off the trade market this season, some teams that had shown interest in the 6-foot-5 guard will need to look elsewhere. There are still a number of noteworthy names floating as potential trade candidates this season, and below, we highlight the three stars who will most likely finish the 2019-20 season with a different team.
Chris Paul
Let's start off with a no-brainer. Following his summer move to the Oklahoma City Thunder, many expect veteran point guard Chris Paul to part ways with his new team sooner rather than later. As a matter of fact, it's actually quite interesting that Paul's camp hasn't been able to secure a move away from OKC. The Thunder are obviously in a rebuilding phase right now, and Paul just doesn't fit in with what the organization is trying to achieve at this point.
The big issue here is Paul's current contract. The 34-year-old still has three years on his current deal and is looking to earn $124 million over the next three seasons. Paul is still a very capable starting point guard in the league, but with Father Time quickly catching up to him, there are not too many teams out there willing to take on his massive deal.
Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers five-time All-Star big man Kevin Love is another name that pops up on our list. Much like Paul, Love is also stuck with a team that is currently focused on developing youth. At 31, Love now has just a few high-level years ahead of him, and it just doesn't make sense for him to spend his last remaining good years with a Cavs side that has very little aspiration to win.
It is worth noting, however, that Love signed a huge four-year extension with Cleveland last summer to the tune of $120 million dollars, so this might prove to be a stumbling block in any potential deal. Nevertheless, Love could prove to be a valuable asset to a team looking to challenge for the title. So long as he is able to stay healthy (he only played 22 games last year), then Love should attract attention from contending teams this season.
Goran Dragic
Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic is coming off a forgettable, injury-plagued season last year. The former Most Improved Player of the Year winner averaged just 13.7 points (his lowest tally since the 2011-12 season), 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 0.8 steals for Miami in just 36 games played.
According to reports, the Heat actually tried to offload Dragic this summer and actually thought they had a deal done, but the trade did not come to fruition. Justise Winslow is now looking like Miami's point guard of the future, and it appears that Dragic's time with the Heat is all but done.
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