The Washington Wizards have reached a crossroads with superstar Bradley Beal.
Although all sides have spent the last several years trying to create a winning team, it simply hasn’t materialized.
As a result, this week, the front office and Beal agreed that if they opted to blow things up ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, he would be permitted to go elsewhere.
Due to Beal being one of a handful of players in the league with a no-trade clause, he would need to agree on the locale as well.
At the moment, four teams are viewed as legitimate suitors for Beal’s services.
But where does he want to go?
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, there is one clearcut frontrunner.
“The three-time All-Star has mulled over his future time and time again over the past few summers, even if his decision has always been to return to the Washington Wizards, the only organization he’s played for during his 11 NBA seasons,” Katz wrote.
“In those moments, according to sources, the Heat have consistently stood above the rest of the league. If Beal had a formal list, which he never has before, then Miami would have been right there at the top of it.”
Beal’s potential fit on the Heat speaks for itself. He is a fantastic scorer who can hit twos and threes with strong efficiency, can run the pick-and-roll effectively and is a decent playmaker when he wants to be.
Those are all attributes Miami needs. Yes, it was great that Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin stepped up at various times throughout the playoffs. But you can’t rely on them long-term. Beal, so long as he remains healthy, is a legitimate superstar.
He would be fantastic next to Jimmy Butler.
Yes, Beal’s 5-year, $250 million contract is a huge albatross – particularly in light of the new CBA. But Pat Riley figures out how to make these complex alignments work, and there is no reason to assume he wouldn’t be able to do it this time around.
Obviously Beal could be traded to any one of a number of teams, but Miami makes the most sense. No wonder his wife is out partying these days. She knows good times are ahead.
What a week for the Philadelphia Eagles. https://t.co/9wY9yWpElC
— Game 7 (@game7__) June 17, 2023
The next few weeks promise to be hectic, but all signs point one thing: a deal of some sort getting done.
Where will Beal be playing come next season? Time will tell.
Related: Boston Celtics Cheerleader’s Wild Photos Go Viral Amid Trade Rumors
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.
