The Washington Wizards are 16-28 and sit 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Although Bradley Beal has been consistent in his position regarding wanting to remain in D.C., speculation has run rampant over the past year that a trade is inevitable.
It even got to the point where Beal quietly signaled that there were five teams he would be willing to accept a deal to, and the Wizards equally gently revealed their list of demands for him.
At this juncture, it feels like the odds of Beal remaining in Washington for years to come are slim.
Which is why today’s report on the matter wasn’t particularly surprising.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, five teams are currently planning to make a serious run at Beal in the offseason.
“There’s still a real chance Beal stays in Washington for years to come, but as the Wizards rack up losses, teams like the Heat are waiting to pounce,” he wrote.
Now we know. https://t.co/giybknFbu8
— Game 7 (@game7__) March 29, 2021
“In addition to Miami, multiple league sources say the Celtics, Knicks, and Pelicans are among the teams with interest in pursuing a deal for Beal. One league source told me the sleeper team to watch in a Beal bidding war is the Raptors.
“This source said Toronto president Masai Ujiri was reluctant to deal Lowry because he believes the team can contend again as soon as next season. At that point, the Raptors will likely be back in a normal rhythm and playing in Canada after spending all of this season in Tampa.”
Could Beal remain with the Wizards long-term? Stranger things have happened.
But at the moment, all signs point to a separation being unavoidable.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
