The NBA trade deadline is a week away and it is going to be very telling about the future of the Washington Wizards. Not only do recent rumors suggest that the Wizards could look to move Spencer Dinwiddie, who the team just signed this past offseason, but Bradley Beal’s future is coming back up in trade conversations across the league.
Washington is not expected to entertain the idea of trading Beal this season and the now 10-year veteran is expected to finish the season with the Wizards, but the All-Star shooting guard may be having some doubts about Washington’s long-term plan for success.
There was a lot of discussion this past offseason about Bradley Beal’s next contract and if he would remain a member of the Washington Wizards. Now, these discussions have once again popped up right before the trade deadline.
According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge and Josh Robbins, Bradley Beal is “conflicted” about his long-term future as a member of the Washington Wizards. He does have a desire to stay with the organization and continue to try and build something in Washington, but Beal is “uncertain” about the team’s chances of surrounding him with the “difference-making talent” necessary to succeed.
“Multiple league sources have indicated Beal remains conflicted. His desire to stay for his entire career with the franchise that took him third overall in 2012 remains genuine. But Beal also remains uncertain about whether the Wizards can surround him with difference-making talent that will make them a regular playoff contender. His contention in a recent interview with NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller that another Play-In Tournament appearance would be a step back for him spoke volumes.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Future For Wizards, Beal Hangs In Balance At Trade Deadline
Obviously trading Bradley Beal is not something the Wizards want to do or plan on doing right now, but Bradley Beal already has the idea of leaving Washington implanted in his mind, they may want to try and get as much value for him as they can in a trade.
Heading into the offseason, Beal has a $36.4M player option that he could very much decline in order to become an unrestricted free agent. With a projected max contract extension of $242M over five years, the Wizards will definitely be able to offer their All-Star the most money, but he could also opt to sign with another team on a projected max contract worth roughly $180M over four years.
Amongst all the teams interested in potentially targeting Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal, the Philadelphia 76ers remain right in the thick of things in their search for another All-NBA type performer to pair with Joel Embiid.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Future For Wizards, Beal Hangs In Balance At Trade Deadline
The Sixers have yet to trade Ben Simmons and with him likely to remain on Philadelphia’s roster through the trade deadline and into the offseason, could the 76ers zero-in on forming a dynamic duo of Beal and Embiid?
Let’s take a look at what Philadelphia would have to give up either at the trade deadline or possibly in the offseason to have a chance at acquiring Bradley Beal.
