I'm not someone who is all that fond of the ever-increasing amount of NBA players who demand trades. I think it hurts the sport, and there is going to come a point where it starts driving certain fanbases away from the game.
But if there is anyone in the NBA who should want out of their current situation, it's Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.
Later this month, Beal will be eligible to sign a three-year, $111 million contract extension with the Wizards, an extension that many around the league feel he will not ink.
If Beal does, indeed, reject that potential proposal from Washington, the clock will then be ticking on his time with the Wizards, as he can hit unrestricted free agency during the summer of 2021.
That would mean Washington would likely have to trade Beal, because the chances of him re-signing in two years seem rather slim.
Honestly, Beal should just make it easier on both sides and demand a trade now, because we all know where this is headed.
Let's face it: the Wizards are kind of screwed right now. They are locked into a massive contract with John Wall, who just suffered a torn Achilles this past winter. They have not been able to make it past the second round of the playoffs since Wall and Beal have been teammates, and even though Tommy Sheppard is currently running things, they still don't have a general manager.
Basically, Washington is an absolute mess, and with no cap space and very limited young talent on the roster, there doesn't appear to be a positive end in sight.
The only way for the Wizards to begin climbing out of this massive hole they have dug for themselves is by trading Beal and recouping some value for the All-Star before he walks for nothing two summers from now.
Bradley Beal, who averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game this past season, would not only be getting out of a horrific situation himself, but he would be doing Washington a favor if he asked out, as it would force the Wizards' hands and not allow them to vacillate on whether or not they should deal him.
Not only that, but at 26 years old, Beal is just entering his prime and is at a point where he can be one of the top stars on a title contender. I don't think he can ever be a true No. 1, but he could be a low-end No. 2 star provided that there are good supporting pieces on the rest of the roster, and he would be a dynamite No. 3 kind of like Klay Thompson has been in Golden State the past three years.
Beal shouldn't look any further than his own teammate in Wall to understand that NBA careers can be fleeting, as Wall will likely never be the same after his Achilles injury, and he is just 28.
The time is now for Beal to start building his legacy by joining a contending team and helping them try to win a title, and on that same token, the time is now for the Wizards to trade Beal while he still has a ton of value and begin a proper rebuild.
Bradley Beal going elsewhere makes perfect sense for both sides.
It's time to put it into action.
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