Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards entered the new NBA campaign with renewed optimism following the blockbuster acquisition of superstar Russell Westbrook in the offseason.
The Wizards’ rather lackluster 2-5 start, however, has once again re-opened discussions of the possibility of trading away the two-time All-Star.
The Wizards' latest backcourt experiment hasn’t’ exactly clicked as Beal and Westbrook usually get their big numbers but have failed to translate to more W’s for the team.
In hindsight, the Wizards brass probably would have simply wanted a do-over and not traded away John Wall, who is killing it with the Houston Rockets right now, for the mercurial Westbrook.
But in reality, it would be much easier to move Beal considering a lot of NBA contenders are already lining up for his services.
Plus, the Wizards could have the luxury of starting fresh with the surplus of future first-rounders they could probably get from their prolific superstar.
The sweet-shooting Beal has emerged as one of the best pure scorers in the NBA, finishing second in points per game last season with 30.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.2 from downtown. It was a travesty that he wasn't even named to the All-NBA Third Team.
The 6-foot-3 marksman has maintained those averages so far this season, albeit seeing a dip in his three-point proficiency at 28.9 percent.
For sure, suitors will have to prepare a mammoth haul of players and future assets to acquire him.
While it seems like a no-brainer for most teams to go all-in on Beal if he’s on the market, bringing in a player of this caliber is a lot to ponder over.
Pros
Obviously, every team in the NBA would love to have a guy like Bradley Beal, who could easily drop 20 points a night in his sleep. He will be the perfect go-to guy for a squad in need of a number one option, or possibly a game-changing piece for a contender who needs a scoring machine to complement other superstars.
Beal’s 60-point explosion against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday is an indication of just how much of a walking bucket he truly is. The fact that the Wizards still lost after that phenomenal performance is another indication that Beal might be wasting his talents in The Capital.
The former University of Florida standout is just 27 years old and has yet to hit his prime. The lucky team that can for trade him will get great value for years to come. He has also shown to become a better overall player every year, honing other aspects of his game like his passing and decision-making. Last season, he averaged a career-high 6.1 assists.
Cons
As phenomenal as Beal is, trading for his services will come at a steep price. For starters, teams must prepare to make cap room for the two-year, $72 million extension he recently signed with the Wizards.
Opposing squads must also get a commitment that he will re-sign considering he has a player-option for the 2022-23 season. Failing to do so would open up risks of him being an extremely expensive rental player.
Considering Beal’s stock as a top-tier talent, teams must present a package of multiple veterans and likely a fellow All-Star in return.
Suitors must also throw the idea of re-building anytime soon out of the window since the Wizards will likely request multiple draft picks in a possible deal.
Verdict
While trading for Bradley Beal does have it’s share of difficulties, a superstar with his skill set is a sound investment that is worthy to roll the dice for. Teams who are reportedly keen on trading for Rockets superstar James Harden should take a second look and consider a more attainable option in Beal. Not to mention, he's shown no history of major attitude problems.
Sure, teams would probably have to fork over a lot for him. But if Beal somehow finds himself joining a contender, it would likely put them in a win-now mode and in the short-list of title favorites this season.
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