In a televised preseason special on Thursday night (audio link), ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe identified Bradley Beal as a player worth watching closely this season. Beal looks like the most obvious candidate of the NBA’s stars to become disgruntled and push for a trade during the 2019/20 season. However, as Wojnarowski notes, that hasn’t happened yet, and the Wizards are still all-in on trying to retain their All-Star guard.
“Bradley Beal’s got two years left on his deal and the Wizards have not given up hope of signing him to an extension,” Wojnarowski said. “They’ve had a three-year, $111MM-or-so extension on the table for him to take in any form. Does he want two years, three years? Any form he wants, it is there waiting for him. So they are nowhere near the idea of moving Bradley Beal. They want to continue to try to rebuild around him.”
[RELATED: Why Bradley Beal won’t immediately accept Wizards’ extension offer]
As Woj and Lowe point out, a weak 2020 free agent class would make Beal an especially valuable trade chip if the Wizards’ stance changes, but there’s no indication that will happen anytime soon.
“Bradley Beal, if he got on the market, would bring back an absolute ransom because if you want to improve your team in a dramatic way, he’d be the guy,” Woj said. “But Washington’s not doing that. They still want to re-sign him.”
Here are a few more highlights from ESPN’s special featuring two of the network’s top basketball reporters:
- The Thunder‘s plan when they acquired Chris Paul from Houston was to flip him to another team, according to Wojnarowski, who says OKC had hoped the Heat would be more open to making a deal. “He’s going to have to play really well in Oklahoma City for somebody to want to take on three years, $124MM [and] pay him $44MM in the final year of his contract,” Woj said of CP3. “That’s a really difficult proposition. … He has value in the league, but not at those numbers.”
- Woj and Lowe think Raptors guard Kyle Lowry would generate a lot of interest on the trade market if Toronto becomes open to moving him. Both ESPN experts believe that Lowry’s one-year, $31MM extension actually makes him more appealing as a trade chip, since he wouldn’t be just a half-season rental. Lowe speculates that teams like the Heat, Pistons, and Clippers might have interest, while Woj singles out the Timberwolves as another potential fit.
- According to Wojnarowski, both the Grizzlies and Andre Iguodala are willing to be patient when it comes to a potential trade or buyout. Woj likens Iguodala to MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, who often signed late in the season during the final few years of his career. “Iguodala’s fine with seeing what the landscape looks like and then jumping in on the season a little later,” Woj said. “Because you’re signing Andre Iguodala – or trading for him – for the postseason.” Woj added that the Lakers and Clippers would be the favorites to land the former Finals MVP if he’s bought out.
- In a discussion on this year’s extension candidates (video link), Wojnarowski suggests that Raptors forward Pascal Siakam would be a lock for a maximum-salary offer sheet if he reaches restricted free agency next summer. Woj believes Kings sharpshooter Buddy Hield would get a similar offer and that Jaylen Brown (Celtics) and Domantas Sabonis (Pacers) would do very well too, given the lack of veteran stars expected to hit the free agent market.
Everyone knows the first hevily predicted playoff team that falters will end up trading something of value to the Grizzlies for Iggy. The question will be Rockets? lakers? Cliiper? or 76ers?
The Lakers need Iggy far more than the Clippers or Rockets do.
If I’m OKC I package CP3 and an extra picks I have for Beal.
so, what you’re saying is, if you’re Washington, you pay 75+ Million for 2 aging point guards? Not a chance.
I think Miami should settle on trading for Chris Paul.
At first I heard they wanted him to come but wanted to take atleast 1 first round pick back from the Thunder to take him.
I think if you give up Goran Dragic and James Johnson for Paul your going to be a much better team. Firstly Dragic is struggling to be a starting PG because Winslow. That doesn’t make Dargic sound particularly good at all. Secondly James Johnson looks desperate to leave. There’s been so much drama to do with his weight and bonuses and his contract and it seems like both party’s want out from each other. Give OKC Dragic and Johnson and take Paul. CP3 is still going to give you 18/8/3 easy, he is a good enough shooter to play off ball and let Winslow and Butler handle the ball. He’s a really good defender and with Butler and Winslow there that makes 3 very nice defenders. Plus the fact he’s just a good leader, he will make Butler happy, he will help the young guys there and so on.
OKC may think Dragic and Johnson is a bad return but Dragic could easily be swapped for Tim Hardaway, giving SGA and Schroder more minutes at PG and giving the team a nice go to scorer. If not he’s on a 1 year expiring deal anyways. James Johnson is a good locker room guy, and his deal is for 2 years at 15 mil each. That is an overpay but it’s better than Paul’s deal, plus it allows you to then trade Galinari and still have a decent starting PF.
Lowry and Annouby for Teague and Wiggins a good deal make it happen
The TWolves would have to give up atleast a first aswell to make that happen. Lowry is still a solid vet PG that can score, defend and facilitate well. They like Annouby as a SF with potential and is a good defender. Wiggins value is really low right now which doesn’t help but I like the idea you have. Wiggins back to his country in Canada, Lowry to the TWolves is good for that team.
Anything that gets Wiggins out of MN is fine with me. He is a monster bust. The dumb sob was on the news the other day saying he a top 100 player. Zero defense. Horrible shooting. Even worse 3 pt shooting. Fair free throw shooting and ZERO heart. Taylors a fool for giving him that contract. Wiggins isn’t even a top3 player on the team and shouldn’t even be a starter.