UNITED STATES: Rival teams are contacting the Washington Wizards to discuss trading for All-Star guard Bradley Beal. Team president Michael Winger and Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, are in constant communication to discuss potential scenarios, according to reports.
Beal, who has a no-trade clause, controls potential destinations and how a potential package impacts his ability to play for a contender elsewhere.
Being the only active player in the NBA with a no-trade clause gives Bradley Beal the unique ability to control not only potential destinations but also how a potential package to acquire Beal impacts his ability to play for a contender elsewhere after finishing the first season of a five-year, $251 million contract.
Teams will not only need to discuss trade ideas with Winger and Wizards general manager Will Dawkins; they will also need to include Bartelstein in a three-way discussion if Winger is motivated to fundamentally change the roster of a team that has missed the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons.
Conversations about Beal’s future with the Wizards are anticipated to increase in frequency as free agency gets underway on July 1 and the NBA draught approaches on June 22, according to sources.
Beal, who spent 11 years with Washington, has a strong bond with team owner Ted Leonsis and the locals. Leonsis has given Winger complete discretion on rebuilding or focusing on veteran talent. Forwards Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis have options to become unrestricted free agents.
Beal scored 23.2 points per game last season while shooting 51% from the field, a career high. He has scored 22.1 points on average throughout his career, including consecutive 30-point seasons in 2019–20 (30.5) and 2020–21 (31.3).
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