On Wednesday afternoon, the first bombshell of the NBA offseason hit. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Washington Wizards will work on a trade for Bradley Beal if they decide to rebuild.
Injuries have derailed the last two seasons for Beal, but he is still an All-Star-level player. Last season, he averaged 23.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 5.4 APG.
Given that he is a star who is under contract long-term, many teams are likely to make a call to Washington regarding Beal. Not long after this news broke, ESPN’s Bobby Marks began making possible trade scenarios for Beal. One involved the New York Knicks sending multiple draft picks and salary filler to the Wizards in exchange for the All-Star guard.
The Knicks are always looking to bring in star talent and will surely be in the mix for Beal. This could potentially be their consolation prize after not landing Donovan Mitchell last offseason.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
From a fit perspective, Beal fills a similar role that they wanted to do with Mitchell last year. He is a high-volume scorer who could seamlessly slide into the backcourt alongside Jalen Brunson. If acquired, New York would have arguably one of the top guard duos in the NBA.
The Knicks have the pieces to get it done but might need to offer more than what Marks laid out. If Washington is gearing for a rebuild, they’ll want more than veterans and one first-round draft pick. To get a deal like this done, New York might need to part with one of their promising young talents.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
After getting back into the postseason this year, the Knicks will be pursuing any and all avenues to getting better. Bringing in someone like Beal easily bumps them up a tier in the Eastern Conference. Given their array of assets, they should be one of the first teams in line to make an offer.
Want the latest in NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
