Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal continues to hold the same position he has held all year: he wants to remain with his current team. While he has often found himself the subject of intense trade speculation, the 27-year-old has been consistent in his pledge to stay loyal.
That said, the Wizards 4-12 mark through 16 games is hard to ignore. At a certain point, unless the organization miraculously turns things around, it will simply behoove all parties involved to seriously contemplate making a big change.
If that happens, obviously everyone will bring up the same teams that are always brought up when this topic broached.
However, there are actually two very surprising NBA teams that are legitimate suitors for Beal’s services in the event he becomes truly available.
According to Jack Fischer of Bleacher Report, the two surprising teams that desperately want Beal are the New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets.
“The New Orleans Pelicans’ interest in Beal remains one of the biggest open secrets around the league, and it seems their massive haul for Jrue Holiday would be the Wizards’ required starting point in any negotiations,” he wrote.
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“With a trove of future draft capital, veteran contracts and five recent first-round picks under the age of 25 (not counting Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram), New Orleans has the flexibility to offer Washington a package that rivals what Brooklyn paid to acquire Harden, and still surround Beal with a winning combination around him.”
Denver is also apparently a legitimate suitor.
“The Nuggets have been as linked to Beal as the Pelicans, and they could offer Washington the only blockbuster trade ingredient it appears New Orleans cannot: a bonafide blue-chip prospect in Michael Porter Jr.,” Fischer wrote.
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Up to this point Beal has been closely linked to several teams. Obviously the Miami Heat have been viewed as an option ever since last year. Then the Golden State Warriors came out of the woodwork. And then last week the Los Angeles Lakers snuck into the conversation.
But none of those squads can put together the sort of packages New Orleans and Denver can.
If the Wizards can somehow turn their year around, clearly this entire conversation becomes moot. Beal wants to stay in Washington and the only thing that could wreck that is continued losing. However, if things don’t pick up, don’t be surprised if the rumors surrounding New Orleans and Denver don’t heat up once again.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
