Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards have a ‘mutual understanding’ that three-time All-Star can be TRADED if the team decides to rebuild
- Beal completed the first season of a five-year, $251 million deal signed last summer
- Michael Winger was hired as president of Wizards Basketball Operations in June
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Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards have a “mutual understanding” that brings both sides together to find a trade that would send the three-time All-Star to a contender, if the team chooses to hit the reset button, The athletic‘s reported.
It remains to be seen if the Wizards choose to go down the rebuilding route and eventually decide to trade their best player, but both sides think they’re working to find a path forward “amicably,” especially with the 2023 NBA Draft coming up. on June 22.
What’s more, unnamed sources have revealed that the Miami Heat is one of several teams expected to compete for Beal if he is put on the trade bloc.
However, Washington must figure out a way to trade Beal. The 29-year-old just completed the first season of a $251 million five-year extension signed last summer.
The deal includes a no-trade clause that allows the guard to block any trade and also includes a 15 percent trade bonus.
Wizard Guardian Bradley Beal has agreed with the organization that he may leave this summer
Tommy Sheppard was the president and general manager of the Wizards when Beal put pen to paper last offseason. The team’s main owner, Ted Leonsis, fired Sheppard just weeks before the end of the regular season on April 19, after another playoff miss — the fourth time in the past five seasons.
And when Michael Winger was hired as president of Monumental Basketball last week after being ousted from the LA Clippers, he made it clear that he has work to do as the Wizards’ new top basketball manager, and that may include first deciding Beal’s future. must find out.
“The goal is to push for championships by any means necessary,” Winger said at his opening press conference on June 8. ‘It will take time. It will start on the ground floor. It’s not just players. It’s not just coaches. We’re all going to do a little bit better tomorrow than we did today… At the end of the day, we’re going to hoist a trophy here in DC. I can’t promise you when.’
The Wizards, who last won an NBA championship in 1978-79, have missed the playoffs the past two seasons with 35-47 records and have not progressed past the first round since 2016-2017.
Winger said Leonsis gave him the go-ahead for a total teardown if necessary.
Michael Winger was hired as CEO of Wizards Basketball in June and will hold talks with Beal
Winger said Wizards owner Ted Leonsis gave him the go-ahead for a total teardown
“Full authority to reset the team, if that’s what we decide to do,” Winger said. “We’re just not over it yet.”
Attacker Kyle Kuzma is a free agent, who has previously indicated that he wants to return. Forward Kristaps Porzingis has a $36 million player option for next season.
“Right now I have to put those guys off to see where their heads are,” Winger said. “They are the leaders of the teams and they carry a lot of water. It’s important for us to get to know those guys.
“We know them as players. We just don’t know them as men. One of the things that’s important to us is getting to know these guys and figure out where they want to see this team go and what they want from us.”
Beal, who turns 30 on June 28, averaged 23.2 points per game last season for a career total of 50.6, though gnawing injuries and a spell in NBA health and safety protocols limited him up to 50 matches.