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There have been conflicting reports recently that the Washington Wizards may decide to part ways with superstar guard Bradley Beal. As bizarre as it sounds, moving on from Beal might not be the worst mistake the Wizards have ever made, because they haven't been able to put together a winning team around him, and the way they've been playing this season indicates that they'll have to rebuild sooner rather than later.
Let's look at three trades that might help the Wizards if they decide to part ways with Bradley Beal.
While all of these trades could be tough, some contending teams are going to overpay and due to the players’ salary, they will have to give back a big package. Not all of these trades are likely, but contending teams are going to be doing everything they can to get better, which could cause some wild trades to be done, as we have seen in the past. Teams in a rebuild type of situation will also attempt to move some key players, and at times, for less than what they are worth.
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Bradley Beal Trades
Wizards get: Ben Simmons
76ers get: Bradley Beal
This wouldn't necessarily be a horrible deal for either side, but the Wizards would lose a lot of offense, which is something they already struggle with on occasions. Giving up Bradley Beal for Ben Simmons may not be the ideal move for the Wizards, but if he isn't going to re-sign with them when his contract expires, it is better for them to acquire something for him instead of letting him walk away in free agency. Ben Simmons isn't a horrible player by any stretch of the imagination, and there's an argument to be made that he's the best defensive player in the league. The fact is that his offensive game is below average, which will not help the Wizards.
If the Wizards can find a way to bring Ben Simmons in next to Bradley Beal, they'll have a title contender on their hands. Unfortunately for Washington, the Sixers aren't going to consider it since that is the only genuine player on their squad who they will be interested in trading when they ultimately decide to move Ben Simmons.
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Wizards get: John Collins, Onyeka Okungwu, future first-round pick
Hawks get: Bradley Beal
This is most likely the best deal the Wizards can receive. They'd be bringing in John Collins, who has established himself as a high-level player in this league, as well as Okungwu, who has shown potential in his brief stint in the league, and a future first-round selection. When the Wizards do decide to deal Bradley Beal, they will almost certainly be searching for a future first-round selection, since it implies they will be looking at a quick rebuild. It might not take as long as some other rebuilding teams, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and others, but the Wizards would almost certainly have to go through it for a season or two.
Bringing in a player like John Collins may be the ideal fit for this Wizards squad since he can not only score the ball, but he can also play above-average defense, something the Wizards need. Atlanta may be interested in this trade as well, since there have been several reports that the Hawks are attempting to trade John Collins.
If Okungwu is going to be traded, this could be the best time for the Wizards to get in on the action. There have been several rumors indicating they are not interested in trading him, which makes sense from their standpoint. Bringing in Bradley Beal might help them since they now have two stars in Trae Young and Beal, who could be the best offensive guard tandem in the NBA if they play together.
Wizards get: Julius Randle, Alec Burks, Obi Toppin
Knicks get: Bradley Beal
The Wizards may be interested in this because they would be returning Julius Randle, who, although not playing well this season, is still a guy with a lot of potential in this league. They'd also be receiving Alec Burks, who can shoot the three-point shot at a high level, and Obi Toppin, who has proved to be a future All-Star in his limited minutes with the Knicks. It's unclear why the Knicks aren't giving Obi Toppin more playing time than he's getting now, considering his minutes have shown that he has the potential to be a legit NBA player one day.
This isn't the best trade the Wizards could make, but it's something they'd consider because they'd receive Julius Randle and a possible young All-Star in Obi Toppin. The Wizards would likely accept this deal if the Knicks could include a draft pick or two. The Knicks, like the Hawks, will be on the lookout for that one-of-a-kind player who can improve their team. Even though the Hawks have Trae Young, there is still a need for a second starting star in Atlanta. While the Knicks do not have any star players, meaning they will be on the lookout for one.
