As trade rumors surrounding Houston Rockets superstar James Harden continue to die down, it appears that some suitors have now turned their attention to Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
According to a report by Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, there might just be a Brad Beal sweepstakes brewing:
Teams already widely known to have interest in Harden, such as the Nets and Sixers, would unsurprisingly also have interest in Beal, league sources say.
This makes a lot of sense. With the Rockets seemingly unwilling to budge in terms of their extravagant demands for James Harden, it does appear that for teams such as Brooklyn and Philadelphia, Beal has now emerged as a viable alternative to the former MVP.
It certainly does not end with the Nets and the Sixers. According to the same report, there might just be some other big teams in the mix as well:
There could also be a few teams flying under the radar who can put themselves in a superstar sweepstakes. This weekend, I asked 14 front office executives which teams come to mind as a sleeper for a blockbuster deal. Six of the executives responded with the Pelicans; three said the Heat; two said the Knicks; and the Mavericks, Nuggets, and Spurs each got one vote.
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that Beal is a wanted man.
It is worth noting, however, that Washington will do everything in their power to keep their superstar on board. After all, they already lost former stud John Wall not too long ago. If the Wizards continue to take the path they are currently on, it would not be a complete shock if Beal himself demands a trade somewhere down the road:
It’s not inevitable Beal expresses his desire to play elsewhere, but it’s a growing likelihood given Washington’s situation. Until the Wizards prove they can get stops, whether it’s against a parked car or more mobile opposition, and until Westbrook stops torpedoing the offense, Beal will remain a threat to leave
The good news for the 2-8 Wizards is that it's still way too early in the season. They still have time to turn things around and in the process, possibly prove to Beal why remaining in the Capital would be in his best interest.