Do the trade?
This week, reports surfaced that the Brooklyn Nets were aggressively trying to upgrade their roster with a major addition. The Nets plans are targeting Bradley Beal, who has one year left on his contract with the Washington Wizards.
Beal, who’s an unrestricted free agent next summer, has said that he doesn’t want to team up with anybody and wants to contend for his own ring. However, Wizards management are contemplating on going into rebuilding mode; which could result in the team planning a fire sale. We wouldn’t expect to see John Wall waste his prime years with the team, if they do decide to go through with the trade.
The Nets are looking to package Spencer Dinwiddle, Caris LeVert and Jarret Allen for Beal. At the top of the year, when Brooklyn was struggling, Kyrie openly said the team needed help, beyond Durant. We’re assuming both used this season as a try-out for most players; with both on the same page regarding the future of what they’ll trust.
If the Nets do decide to get Bradley, their pending big three will absorb over 88 percent of the team’s cap salary next year. They’ll be able to re-sign Joe Harris on Bird Rights, as well as landing a lottery pick from the 76ers in the draft later this year.
This year, Beal led the entire Eastern Conference in scoring, averaging a career-high of 30 points a game – on 46% shooting.
Judging by those numbers, it’s eye-raising that the Nets believe Beal would want to pair up at only 26, before he enters his prime. Unlike stars Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Jimmy Butler, who forced trades over the last two years – Beal could be forced out the door from a franchise he’s been loyal to.
If and after the Nets do complete this trade, they would immediately move to the favorites for the 2021 campaign to make the NBA Finals. Let us know what you think of the possible scenario.