Kevin O’Connor Blasts The Wizards For Bradley Beal Saga: “Predictably Embarrassing It Ended This Way”

NBA insider Kevin O'Connor was not surprised when the Washington Wizards were forced to sell low on franchise star Bradley Beal.

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Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards just lost their franchise star with 11 seasons of service for virtually nothing, as they traded Bradley Beal for 38-year-old Chris Paul, Landey Shamet, first-round pick swaps, and second-round picks.

Beal is a former scoring champion and the Wizards received salary-filler contracts with no unprotected first-round picks. NBA insider Kevin O’Connor blamed the situation on Washington giving Beal a no-trade clause which allowed the star to control where he goes and what the Wiz would get for him.

“The Wizards screwed themselves giving Bradley Beal that no-trade clause with the supermax. They should have dealt him instead of extending him. Predictably embarrassing it ended this way.”

The Wizards were reportedly interested in Deandre Ayton as the returning piece before Beal insisted it is Chris Paul instead. It makes sense, as Beal wouldn’t want his new team to give up an asset like Ayton for him. He’d rather play with the big man or see him dealt elsewhere in a trade that brings them more rotational depth.


Trade Players Before Their Value Disappears

The Wizards insisted on not trading Beal for the last five years despite most fans predicting this would be the ultimate destination for both team and the player. People didn’t forsee Beal getting a no-trade clause, something even top stars in the NBA like Giannis Antetokounmpo don’t have. That clause guaranteed the Wizards would lose Beal for cheap when the time came. They could’ve restocked future assets four years ago instead of letting Beal go for virtually nothing in 2023.

This will be a cautionary tale to teams around the NBA that get stuck in the middle of the league. The Wiz were never bad enough for a top-five pick but rarely good enough for the playoffs. The Blazers may end up having to trade Damian Lillard for cheap after they also kept him for their title hopes, something that looks out of the picture now for the Blazers.  

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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