The Wizards are reportedly engaged in serious talks to send Russell Westbrook to the Lakers, but that doesn’t mean Washington is looking to trade its other star guard too. According to Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link), a Westbrook deal isn’t viewed as a precursor to a Bradley Beal trade.
The idea behind a Westbrook trade for Washington would be to add some solid role-playing veterans around Beal and to unlock future cap flexibility to continue adding pieces around the NBA’s second-leading scorer, as both David Aldridge of The Athletic and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN have noted (Twitter links). Getting off of Westbrook’s $47MM+ salary for 2022/23 would put the Wizards in position to open up a significant chunk of cap room next summer.
While we don’t know for sure that Beal will be moved by that pitch, Marcus Thompson of The Athletic tweets that – based on what he’s hearing – the All-NBA guard will opt to remain in Washington.
Beal remains under contract with the Wizards for one more season before facing a player option decision in 2022, so even if he decides to stick with the franchise for the time being, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll have a long-term future in D.C.
For now though, it appears the most likely outcome is that Beal will be patient as Washington reshapes the roster around him and will assess how the new group looks in 2021/22. We will, of course, provide updates if and when that changes.
As I said, Beal trade is highly unlikely before February trade deadline
Now the Lakers will have the same problem as GSW no bench. The good news is the warriors have a young bench while Laker bench will be the retirement hospital.
lol why tf would Beal stay for another rebuild. dudes gonna request a trade to the Warriors or Celtics
I’m genuinely surprised that within a year, the wizards were able to trade off both Wall and Westbrook.
Truly, no contract is untradeable
Greater fool theory pays off in the NBA all the time.
Well, they traded Wall for Westbrook, so they can’t credit for trading both.
Basically, though, bigger picture, they got off Wall’s contract (the league’s worst) for merely one 1st (sent to HOU, which they kind of recoup from LAL) and the toxic waste the Lakers are sending them. Not bad.
Like Beal wants to hang around after seeing the message the front office is sending with this trade. He’s as good as gone.
Why would it. Beal LIKES this deal, and why would he not. Clears some space, gives him some usable players who aren’t convinced they’re superstars. Give him a real point guard and that team’s not half bad.
He had a real PG, but they traded him for Westbrook.
But the good news is that there are plenty of PGs available this year and I’m sure that one or more of the Laker guys will be flipped. They have Deni and Rui, so I don’t really see room for all three of the new guys.
Devonte Graham would make sense. Sexton for Kuzma?
LeBron as GM; skeptical about end result
NOOOOOO !!!!!!!
Says who. So Beal is staying for REBUILD.
Please we are real fans so stop the nonsense. Pass the sense and let the trading begin. Beal is next if Westbrook goes. Believe it. Ask yourself why does he stay. WHY
I agree. Yet he’s stayed to this point. Frankly from WSN’s standpoint it makes little basketball sense to keep him.
Loyalty
I think Beal would be a better fit with Lebron and AD. Does a beal trade not work, or would he cost more than westbrook?
Cost a lot more than westbrick.
Come on over to the Hawks Beal will give the wizards cam reddish , this year and next year pick along with Kevin Hurter
By whom? The only view that counts is Beal’s. Of course, if Beal liked playing with Westbrick, he’d be the first teammate who has.
What path is there for WSN to become even a remote contender in the East?
Their best case scenario is middling. And their success over the last 4 years has been non-existent.
The team frankly owes it to itself to sell high on Beal, while he’s in his prime. I’m all for loyalty but dam—was Beal really that big of a fan of Mitch Richmond?