Photo via Steve Mitchell/USA Today
The Miami Heat are two days removed from losing to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. Now, we are headed into the ‘Transactional” period on the NBA calendar. Additionally, there appears to be a star being available in trade talks very soon. A familiar star at that. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal are expected to work together on finding a trade for him should the team reset. And yes, the Miami Heat are expected to be prominent suitors for the star guard.
“Sources said both sides are working amicably to find the path forward, with the draft looming on June 22. The sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss the matter, said the Miami Heat are expected to be prominent suitors for Beal if he reaches the market.” –
Shams Charania
Unlike most players, the star guard will have a lot of influence over where he ends up for his next stop. His five-year, $251 million contract, which also has a full no-trade clause, just finished its first season. Therefore, the Wizards must bring up Beal in whatever negotiations they have with interested teams in the NBA.
Potential Risks of Beal Trade
A multiple-time NBA All-star, Beal is obviously one of the best NBA players, but any team considering a trade for him must weigh the consequences of doing so. With his huge contract, Beal will occupy a sizable portion of the NBA team’s salary cap. Beal also has a 15% trade kicker in his contract, which he could waive. Additionally, he is not getting any younger and has played in 90 games the past two seasons. When healthy, he’s a terrific fit alongside Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. But his health and contract make it a huge risk.
Overall, there’s plenty of things to consider as we ponder a potential Beal trade. But with the NBA Draft and Free Agency around the corner, Beal could potentially be in a different spot. When or if he’s moved, it could start fireworks in what could be a busy NBA off-season.
