The Washington Wizards have no financial flexibility ahead of this summer. Currently they have over $90 million in committed salaries with 10-open roster spots. That’s led to many speculating if moving All-Star Bradley Beal being inevitable for a team that desperately may need to refocus their direction and rebuild.
If they are considering moving their leading scorer Beal, they will have plenty of suitors, including the New Orleans Pelicans. According to Fletcher Mackel of New Orleans’ NBC affiliate WDSU, the Pelicans are targeting the Wizards shooting guard to be part of a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
If the Wizards are seriously ever going to consider trading Beal, who has two years remaining on his contract, this may be the ideal transaction to make.
The Lakers would land Anthony Davis. The Pelicans, who seemingly are not intrigued by young Lakers’ core would get an established All-Star to go with presumed No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson.
Washington would more than likely land one or two of the Lakers’ available trade assets such as Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and/or Josh Hart along with the No. 4 overall pick of the Lakers.
The Pelicans have reportedly wanted to involve a third team to help finalized any potential trade with the Lakers involving Davis. The Lakers have reported targeted Beal as a backup plan to not landing Davis. Multiple reports have suggested the Wizards would like the No. 4 pick along with Ingram and/or Ball with another player or two.
Of course, the idea is still far from being a reality and a rumor at best right now. This is the time of year that all kinds of reports come out of players being targeted by other teams.
Also, keep in mind, the Wizards officially still don’t have a president of basketball operations/general manager. The Wizards’ brass would presumably wait until a hire is made to make such a impact move such as trading Beal.
Even if the rumor does not materialize into reality, the Wizards and their soon-to-be new general manager will have to face the possibility of moving on from Beal, especially with John Wall potentially miss all of next year with a torn Achilles.
Wall’s whopping $42 million annual average four-year supermax deal is unattractive for suitors. And with just four other players signed, Beal seems to be the only valuable trade asset for the Wizards to start their rebuilding process.
