Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has been the talk of town for the past few months and it’s easy to understand why. As a young, sharpshooting star on a team that’s not performing well, it only makes sense that his future has fallen under so much uncertainty.
Even if he decides not to push for a trade, the Wizards may consider putting him on the block themselves if it’ll give them a chance to start over with new assets.
Needless to say, a star may be available — but who are among the most interested parties? According to Shams Charania on the Load Management podcast, three teams, in particular, stand out above the rest: the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
The Heat were a team that had interest. The Heat, the Lakers, New Orleans… Those are teams that I’ve heard.
Beal would make a lot of sense for the Heat. Even after signing Jimmy Butler last summer, they remain interested in gathering star-power to make a title push. Beal would help stretch the floor and open things up for other guys who operate on the inside.
In L.A., the combined forces of LeBron, Davis, and Beal would be a lot for any team to handle. They’d immediately rank near the top in offensive power and Beal’s status as a young shooter may entice Anthony Davis to sign a long-term commitment to the franchise.
Finally, in New Orleans, Brad would likely be a leader for the team due to their youth and inexperience. Bradley would be an ideal fit next to the athletic-oriented game of Zion Williamson and might serve as a replacement for Brandon Ingram if he decides to leave this offseason.
Other teams are sure to express interest in a possible trade during the weeks and months to come, but perhaps no other team in the league has the incentive and the assets to pull it off like the three teams mentioned above. It’ll be interesting to see who makes a move.
