On June 14, Shams Charania revealed that the Washington Wizards were working with franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal to find a trade the veteran would agree to. Beal has played his entire career in Washington after being drafted in 2012. However, despite Beal's caliber, the Wizards had always let him down in terms of a supporting cast. After a handful of Conference Semifinal appearances in the late-2010s, Washington has just one playoff appearance in the last five years.
A variety of teams were immediately floated as good theoretical fits for Beal. However, Beal’s incredibly weighty contract ($207.7 million over the next four seasons) is a major part of the negotiations. Furthermore, Beal will be going from being the top player on the Wizards to like the second or third player on another team. A figure like $207.7 million is a lot of money for a guy who isn’t your best player. Despite this, the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have both emerged as early suitors for the veteran’s services. They were subsequently joined by the Sacramento Kings. However, another Eastern Conference team has been linked with Beal.
Brooklyn Nets Join Beal Rumors
After a season spent collecting draft capital, the Brooklyn Nets have been vocal about their intention to build a contender around Mikal Bridges. They have a wealth of draft picks over the rest of the decade and the ability to build the team that best fits their vision. Beal would make an excellent, and reliable, veteran presence for what is likely to be a younger Nets team.
These latest rumors come courtesy of TNT's Chris Haynes, who shared them on the #thisleague UNCUT podcast. While it's unclear how serious or far along in their thinking the Nets are, they should be considered a potential suitor. This news is not the only Beal news of the day. In addition with the Nets joining the fray, the Wizards have reportedly granted Beal permission to speak with other teams. This is a major step forwards in the trade discussions. Furthermore, it indicates that the Wizards may be looking to get a deal completed before the NBA Draft. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.
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