Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal continues to be a name that keeps coming up before the NBA Draft on Thursday and while he has yet to say whether or not he wants to remain in Washington, a decision has to be made rather quickly. In any potential trade scenario for Beal, the Washington Wizards would be receiving a large chunk of draft assets in return, most of which would likely be for the 2021 NBA Draft.
A source close to the Washington Wizards has told NBA Analysis Network that the organization does view both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal as part of their core heading into the 2021-22 season and this mindset has not changed since the 2020-21 season ended for them.
Washington is committed to trying to find more ways to add talent around their two superstars, but this whole situation is really up to Beal and if he truly does want out of Washington. While he has not formally asked the Washington Wizards for a trade and remains committed to them right now, Beal trade rumors have been going on for years now because of the lack of productivity within this Wizards organization.
Several teams have pushed hard for Beal in trade talk this offseason so far, but the one team who very well could offer the best deal for the All-Star shooting guard is the Golden State Warriors. The likely scenario in which the Warriors could possibly add Bradley Beal would be to include both the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in this year’s draft, as well as Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman in a bundle to go to Washington, but the Wizards may not view this deal as a ton of value compared to what players like Anthony Davis and James Harden have been traded for in the past.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Lillard, Simmons, Sexton, and More
Overall though, Washington probably is not going to get much better of a deal not only because Golden State and Orlando are the only two teams in the league that has two lottery picks in this year’s draft, but because no other team really has the same value of young talent in Wiggins and Wiseman to offer up.
The Boston Celtics could potentially offer Jaylen Brown and some draft picks, but there is really no reason why they would offer Brown for Beal seeing as this is almost a lateral move for them. The Los Angeles Lakers have offered up Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in most trade offers this offseason, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but they really do not have any valuable assets to offer up for a player of Beal’s caliber that would be enticing for the Wizards.
There is a scenario in which the Lakers could look to give up Dennis Schroder in a sign-and-trade with the Wizards in attempts to land Bradley Beal, but again, Washington may not want to take on Schroder, especially on a new, long-term deal.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Lillard, Simmons, Sexton, and More
Beal is up for a super-max contract extension in Washington next season and has always looked for reasons to remain in Washington, so based on how things are trending right now and the draft being on Thursday, it seems likely that Bradley Beal hangs around in Washington for at least one more season to try and build something with the Wizards.
There still is the slim possibility though that he requests out over the next few days, which could force the Washington Wizards to scramble for answers in trade talks. If Beal requests out, then the Wizards will most likely look to get a deal done before the draft begins Thursday night.
