It looks like it’s official that Bradley Beal and the Wizards will work together to investigate a trade for the star, and we’ve heard Miami, maybe the Lakers, and a few other names bandied about.
When he joined Brian Mitchell on Wednesday, though, NBA TV’s Chris Miles said don’t count out two squads up I-95 that some are already saying are no-gos.
“I think the three teams you should really keep an eye on are the Heat, Knicks, and 76ers,” Miles said. “And, I think for Bradley Beal, he will be in a better situation for his career; no disrespect to the Wizards, but that just is what it is.”
Good for Beal, but not for the Wizards, who are, in essence, selling low because of Beal’s contract.
“The Wizards are selling at the absolute worst time,” Miles said. “The time to capitalize on his trade value was two or three years ago, so what you’ll get back is an expiring contract like Kyle Lowry or Tobias Harris, maybe another player to make it work, and perhaps a draft pick. That’s what teams are going to try to do; they will try to say they’re going to take the contract to compete, so they’ll overpay because there’s value.”
And, the best destinations for Beal may not be the best trade partners for the Wizards, but Philly could be the best happy medium?
"The best basketball fit is Philadelphia," Miles said. "I know people have said in the past there's mutual interest with the Heat, and when I look at the Heat's salary situation, that's the right play. But, when I look at Philly, with what's happening with James Harden and Joel Embiid, the basketball fit is perfect; Tyrese Maxey, Beal, and Embiid is the perfect situation, where Beal can be the guy who scores 30 in the first three quarters, and then at the end of the game, all the pressure is on Embiid."
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On the opposite end, the best partner for the Wizards may be a team like the Nets, who have draft capital after the Kevin Durant trade and only three guaranteed contracts on the books after next year.
"That's a team I would call, especially with the thought that Kristaps Porzingis might pick up his option and seek a long-term deal next year," Miles said. "If we take on expiring contracts, and get some draft capital, yeah, it's a rebuild, but that might be enticing for the Wizards. If you get Ben Simmons and a couple draft picks back for Bradley Beal? People may not like that, but you can live with that if you look at it as you're getting draft picks back."
The other problem? A certain star on the west coast in perhaps a similar situation.
“The Blazers may be looking to trade Damian Lillard, too, so the Wizards have to strike first, because Lillard will be a hotter commodity,” Miles said. “If he goes on the market before Beal, you’re getting scraps from that as well. The Wizards have missed opportunities before, so the Bradley Beal news has to be the first news of the offseason.”
Listen to Miles’ entire conversation with Brian Mitchell above, which includes his thoughts on Ja Morant's future as well!
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