Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards are headed for divorce. Chase Young and the Washington Commanders only wish they could.
Offseason reports have both players looking to exit. The Wiz are considering a complete teardown and trading their only true star. The Commanders are also a season away from a total rebuild . . . if they don’t make the postseason.
Beal and Young are amid both maelstroms and may not mind.
It’s not Beal’s fault the team is paying him a max contract worth $207.7 million over the next four years. Beal got paid after averaging 31.3 points in 2021, then played only 74 of 164 games because of injuries while averaging 23.3 points.
The Wiz became used to life without Beal on the court and they were no better or worse. They just continued to stink until finally, finally changing the front office that is looking for some way to break a generation of so-so seasons.
The big problem with Beal is he’s not a No. 1. He's a great No. 2 and successful teams need a great No. 2. Unfortunately, Washington is paying him like a No. 1 to prevent getting a real No. 1. And, there’s no way to do so with Beal on the roster.
The solution isn’t dumping Beal’s contract for other bad contracts and zeroing out the ledger. Washington needs draft picks (and hopefully someone who knows what to do with them.) There are enough interested teams knowing Beal could be a vital piece in a title run as their No. 2 to merit multiple ones or at least a first and a solid starter. That’s the only way to resolve this logjam.
Meanwhile, the Commands and Young are in a stare down over the latter’s final season. And, other teams are watching.
This offseason Washington declined Young's fifth-year option, worth $17.5 million for the 2024 season after getting little production from the 2020 second-overall selection over the last two seasons due to injury. The Commanders are gambling Young plays well enough to merit franchising him next year at $24.46 million and buying time to consider offering a long-term extension or letting him become a free agent.
There are other teams willing to risk trading for Young in a show-me contract season. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin looked at Young during a 2020 encounter like a lottery winner walking through a car dealership. Tomlin’s tough-love approach might help Young develop into the star player that flashed as a rookie before tearing up his knee the next season.
Still, there’s always a problem. Washington will gain a 2025 third-round compensation pick if Young leaves so any trade has to start with a second-rounder, a hefty rental for a one-year deal on a player with a boatload of potential but who hasn't shown much beyond flashes. Only a team needing a final piece to a championship roster does that and Pittsburgh isn’t close to winning anything just yet.
Also, Commanders coach Ron Rivera isn’t trading a potential impact player for future picks that his successor might use. Rivera needs to win now to even be under consideration when the new ownership group takes control. Young playing lights out for a new contract would help.
Two stars passing through Washington may be forced to maintain orbit . . . for now. But, neither is so valuable they can’t be traded. It’s just complicated in a city that thrives on complicated.
Follow Rick Snider on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
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