It sounds like the Washington Wizards will keep NBA star shooting guard Bradley Beal despite the talented scorer being in trade rumors.
New Wizards president Michael Winger told Andrew Grief of the Los Angeles Times that he’s excited to have Beal on the roster.
“His former coaches, his former teammates, they all have extraordinarily high regard for him, and he is unequivocally a superstar,” Winger said. “The hardest thing to do in the NBA is acquire a superstar talent and it’s even harder to acquire superstar talent with his level of character. And so, I think it’s an extremely, extremely fortunate starting point. So to me, that’s really exciting to have somebody like Brad on the team.”
Beal signed a five-year, $251 million contract with the Wizards in July 2022. The contract includes a no-trade clause.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal & Washington Wizards Updates
A three-time All-Star, Beal averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season in 50 games while shooting 50.6% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc, and 84.2% from the free-throw line. The Wizards won only 35 games and didn’t make the playoffs.
Washington hasn’t made the postseason since 2021. Beal has remained loyal to the Wizards by not requesting a trade. It will be interesting to see what Winger does to improve the roster around Beal, who turns 30 in June.
“The proof is right there,” Winger said. “It’s just a matter of taking some of those principles, injecting the equivalent of the NBA’s nuances into those principles, and hopefully building something that is sturdy, sound, attracts good players, attracts good staff, keeps good players, keeps good staff, and ultimately wins basketball games.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal & Washington Wizards Updates
Along with Beal, the Wizards also have Kristaps Porziņģis, Kyle Kuzma, and Deni Avdija. Kuzma can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2023-24 player option worth $13 million.
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