Mar 2, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts on the court against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Bradley Beal is the center of all the latest NBA rumors. Here’s the buzz on the trade price and possible suitors in the Eastern Conference.
NBA rumors: Bradley Beal might not be traded for a big haul due to multiple factors
According to Brian Windhorst, Bradley Beal will be traded for a “fraction” of what the Jazz got for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert last offseason. Windy would go on to add that the Wizards are in a tricky situation due to the fact that Beal has a no-trade clause. Additionally, his contract is not extremely desirable for a player who has only made All-NBA 3rd team once and has never made a 1st or 2nd team.
Not a lot of teams are expected to be in the Beal trade sweepstakes. First, teams have to be a good enough roster for Beal to go to after the trade is made. Then, the team has been willing to eat the last two years of his deal where he will sorely decline in play as he ages. Also, the league is going into a summer where teams will try to avoid the luxury tax due to the new CBA which gives out high penalties for teams that do not get under the second or even first tax apron.
The Heat is the exception — team that is heavily linked to the Beal and could be the team that ultimately makes the deal for the all-star.
The Heat don’t have every pick in their trade arsenal but still, they could easily match contracts with the Wizards. The only reason that the Bucks are listed is due to the fact that things in Milwaukee are getting very dark. The core that won the championship two seasons ago is aging and Giannis Antetokounmpo only has two years left on his deal (with a player option for the next season).
Additionally, Khris Middleton has a player option this summer that he will decline and maybe the Bucks would rather trade for Bradley Beal than re-sign Khris Middleton. Yes, Beal is an aging All-Star but Middleton is getting older and hasn’t been the same since his MCL sprain against the Celtics two seasons ago.