Last week, Fletcher Markel of New Orleans’ NBC affiliate WDSU reported the New Orleans Pelicans were interested in including Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards in the trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
However, the Pelicans and Lakers agreed on a trade Saturday that will send Davis to the Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, the No. 4 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft and three future first-round picks.
That deal has not subdued the Pelicans’ interest in Beal. According to Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington, the Wizards and Pelicans discussed parameter around a deal that would send the No. 4 overall pick New Orleans is acquiring from the Lakers to Washington for Beal.
However, the Wizards appear to be set on rebuilding their roster around the two-time All-Star Beal while cornerstone player John Wall is expected to sit out the 2019-20 season with a torn Achilles.
Beal had a career-year in 2018-19, averaging career-highs of 25.6 points, 5.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, including 35.1 percent from three.
Despite Beal’s efforts, the Wizards finished 32-50 missing the playoffs for just the second time in six years. The team fired long-time president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld after 16 years, and currently have yet to replace him as Tommy Shepard is running the team as the interim president.
A re-build is set as Washington has just five players on the roster with guaranteed contracts for next season. And that includes the injured Wall, and the aging Dwight Howard, who missed 73 games in 2018-19.
Beal is Washington’s only true value asset. He currently has two years and $56 million remaining on his max contract and could become super-max eligible next season. With the team committed to $90 million between five players for next season, moving Beal may be an option that the Wizards have to visit in the near future. For now, it appears they are against it.
