Just as the Washington Wizards get set for their Media Day Monday ahead of training camp, a report speaking on star Bradley Beal and his loyalty to the organization surfaced.
According to The Athletic, former Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook tried to convince Bradley Beal to request a trade in the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft.
Westbrook, a Los Angeles native, was heartset on being traded to the Lakers. But, in his campaign to convince the Wizards to let him out of Washington, he tried to get Beal to move on from the only team he has played for. If not anything else, get Beal to support his desire to play for the Lakers. Beal did.
Westbrook feared the Lakers would move on from their desire to land the 2017 NBA MVP and instead trade for Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Buddy Hield. That prompted Westbrook to get in touch with Wizards owner Ted Leonsis to personally make a plea to be traded.
Westbrook got his wish. The Wizards traded him to the Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the No. 22 pick in this year’s draft.
However, Beal of course is staying put with the Wizards. Yet, it is worth noting Shams Charania of The Athletic reported nearly a week before the July 29 draft, Beal was “seriously mulling” his future with the team.
Now he will enter his 10th season with the Wizards. There is a great deal of optimism entering the season as he will be paired with point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who the Wizards signed to a three-year, $58.5 million deal. But as long as the Wizards struggle through a rebuild, the rumors will continue to swirl about Beal’s future in Washington.
