Wizards guard Bradley Beal is committed to sticking with the team this season, but that didn’t stop the 27-year-old from giving high praise to Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo earlier this week, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes.
Beal led Washington to a 103-100 win over Miami on Wednesday, with the teams set to play again on Friday night. Both he and the Heat have been linked to each other in the past, as Miami has long been rumored to be eyeing the veteran in case he becomes available before the March 25 deadline.
“Jimmy is an unbelievable player,” Beal said. “He’s a star in our league, a true leader. It’s always competitive when we play. He always just wants to win, whatever it looks like.”
Beal also complimented Adebayo, singling out the 23-year-old’s unique ability to guard positions one-through-five. Winderman notes that Miami’s reported interest even caused some Heat fans to cheer for Beal, who finished with a game-high 32 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday’s game.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Despite having a respectable season to date, Hornets forward Gordon Hayward may miss the cut of becoming an All-Star this season, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Hayward, who signed a four-year, $120MM deal to join the team in free agency, is holding per-game averages of 22.9 points (a career-high), 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 21 contests.
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington explores whether Wizards forward Troy Brown Jr. did enough in Wednesday’s game against Miami to earn more playing time. Brown, 21, finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, shooting 3-of-9 from the floor.
- The Hawks still haven’t solved their back-up point guard issue, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic opines. Atlanta has struggled without Trae Young on the floor this season, owning just a 10-12 record in their first 22 games. Offseason signings Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn have both missed time due to injuries, with Rondo only playing in 13 of those games and Dunn not appearing in a single contest to date.
Beal: Philadelphia, Dallas, Denver
Beal…the guy who is afraid of playing on a contender…
Would you rather he did the same as Harden and demand a trade to one?
So you’re finally saying Houston is not a contender? There may be hope for you yet.
I didn’t say he has to throw a tantrum, act like a child for a trade.. AD didn’t act like a brat… Just tell the GM respectively, if we aren’t good enough then please trade me. Simple…
I would disagree on AD, making his trade demands to LA public was definitely not a good look.
AD still didn’t act like a brat. His agent leaked it, not him…
Agree with Walladipo, I have a ton more respect for Beal wanting to play for one team despite their troubles rather than “being afraid of playing for a contender” which is an awful argument since Washington was a contender a few years back
Contender means in the running for the finals or the chip… How many of those were the wiz in???? They never overachieved like the blazers who at least made conference finals a few years ago…
Throw the Hawks into the one year experiment with Ball conversation?
Amazing how some fans want Beal to waste his prime,yet bash other teams for not being good..
Not about the fans, is all about what Beal wants, if he wants to stay that’s the best for him & everybody.
If Harden wants to go that is the best for him & everybody… is all about what the players want & makes them happy.
Fans & teams just gotta shut up & pay them, as simple as!
Beal to the Heat …. yes
Dunn, Herro, Achiuwa this is a nice starting point.
three team trade including the hawks?
So the professional way to go about it is how Beal is public about his desire to stay yada yada… And behind closed doors he can tell the GM ‘do what you gotta do, but I’ll show up everyday with 100%’. He will be a FA before he is 30, so hell get the chance to get paid elsewhere if he chooses.
One thing people forget, it’s not just the team in Houston being subpar to compete, the West got even harder to get through, and the China ordeal hurts Harden. New team, in the East, easier path, and in another dense Asian market. His handling of it, was piss poor.
I don’t know if this is big or not. But Nets owner is Chinese American. China is a huge market. That will be settled eventually.
I imagine most Chinese view our NBA players like most Americans viewed the 70’s German female weightlifting participants.