Bradley Beal’s increasingly precarious status with the Washington Wizards is one of the hottest stories in the NBA right now.
Chatter regarding the 28-year-old got so loud, in fact, that he himself came out and responded to it.
One of the teams Beal has been most closely linked to in recent weeks is the Golden State Warriors.
Between the Nos. 7 and 14 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, James Wiseman and financial considerations, the Warriors can put together a fairly enticing package for Beal – but there’s just one small problem.
It’s unclear whether Beal actually wants out. And apparently, until he comes out and explicitly asks to be moved, he isn’t going anywhere.
According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, the only way Beal gets dealt is if he demands a trade.
“But the longer Beal goes without requesting a trade, the less likely the Wizards are to orchestrate a deal involving him by Thursday evening,” he wrote.
That’s one way to celebrate a birthday. https://t.co/kR0Coa801w
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 28, 2021
“A league source told The Chronicle on Wednesday morning that the Warriors’ decision-makers don’t expect a Beal trade — to them or anyone else — before they must make their two lottery picks.”
If Beal were to get traded, Russell Westbrook would be the next domino to drop. The former league MVP has been the topic of a lot of conversations between Washington and the Los Angeles Lakers, and league insiders are increasingly beginning to believe that a deal will come together.
Either way, this much seems certain: either both Beal and Westbrook are getting traded this offseason, or neither is.
Related: Suns’ Chris Paul Teases Next Move After Lakers Trade Rumors
