Several teams around the league are positioning themselves to be competitive for an eventual Bradley Beal sweepstakes.
“It’s what everyone’s talking about in the league,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his podcast. “There are executives out there… I’m just telling you this, I talk to them… who are talking about moves they can make going into this trade deadline, or moves they can make now that potentially set themselves up to make an even better Bradley Beal offer when that moment happens.
“Whether it’s in March, whether it’s in August. Whatever…There are so many people watching this, even though he is, to my knowledge, has not made any requests for anything.”
The Wizards are struggling this year and while Beal is frustrated, he’s being patient with the franchise with the hopes of turning it around. There’s some level of understanding between the two sides.
Washington’s front office vowed not to send the shooting guard anywhere he didn’t want to go back when he signed his extension, as we passed along on Thursday, and the club has kept Beal in the loop on major decisions, such as the Russell Westbrook trade. If a trade occurs, it’s likely that it will suit both parties. Teams around the league gearing up for a deal will only help Beal have more options should he make the decision to leave the franchise.
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- The Timberwolves attempted to trade out of the No. 1 overall even as they were on the clock, Windhorst explains on the same podcast. “If he had drafted either Wiseman or Ball, he would have crowded either one of those guys who can block vote against him, frankly,” said Brian Windhorst on his podcast. “He tried like hell for months to get out of that No. 1 pick. All the way up until draft night. In fact, the story I’ve heard, even on the clock he was trying to posture that he was going to take Wiseman in an effort to get the Warriors, who wanted Wiseman really bad, to swap with him and give him his draft pick back.”
- Danny Green, who arrived in Philadelphia via trade this fall, said he still remains in touch with his Lakers teammates. I still call them brothers,” Green told FortyEightMinutes and other reporters earlier this week. “We still have a bond forever, because of what we achieved together and the time we spent in the bubble.”
- Chris Paul, who was traded to the Suns during the offseason, voiced his frustration earlier in the week. “We’ve gotta respect who we’re playing against. Every night. Respect the opponent. They get paid just like we do,” Paul said after the Suns’ third loss on Wednesday. Phoenix had lost three straight games but the club responded, winning on Thursday without Devin Booker in the lineup.
