Rivals emerge as Bradley Beal poised to begin talks over Washington Wizards exit
The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as early frontrunners to potentially complete a trade for Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal.
The Wizards recently granted Beal and his representatives to speak with teams he has an interest in being traded to with the franchise assisting him in moving should they decide to embark on a rebuild. The three-time All-Star has not requested a trade.
It is understood Beal will only consider contenders with a shot at winning the NBA championship. The Wizards, who last won an NBA title in 1978-79, have missed the playoffs the last two seasons with 35-47 records while the team has not advanced past the first round since 2016-17, when Beal starred alongside John Wall in the Washington backcourt.
Beal also owns a no-trade clause - reportedly the only player in the NBA with such a clause - which gives him the authority to veto and approve potential trades, hence why Washington are helping him find a new home. The Heat and Bucks are expected to reach out and begin talks with Beal and his agent Mark Bartelstein in the coming days.
The Heat possess a well-rounded roster but they lack true offensive star power, with Jimmy Butler carrying the load as Miami stormed to the NBA Finals before falling to the Denver Nuggets. The Bucks, meanwhile, are reportedly looking to refresh the team around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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It remains to be seen if the Wizards will indeed to decide to trade its best player, but both parties are looking for an amicable solution with the 2023 NBA Draft coming up on June 22. Beal has been with the franchise since Washington drafted him back in 2012.
Bradley Beal has starred for the Washington Wizards since they selected him third overall in the 2012 NBA Draft (Getty Images)The 29-year-old signed five-year extension worth $251million (£196m) last July. The deal also includes a 15 percent trade bonus, with Beal putting up 23.2 points on a career-high 50.6 percent overall shooting rate as well as 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season.
However, the 2022-23 campaign is likely to be Beal’s final year in Washington. Michael Winger has been hired as the new general manager of the Wizards, and he is famously unsentimental and traditionally brought in for a rebuild.
Winger traded Blake Griffin in his first year in his role at the LA Clippers, just six months after the franchise had lured Griffin back in free agency with a presentation that envisioned him retiring as a lifelong Clipper. Washington has not made it past the second round of the playoffs during Beal's time in the league, and the team has missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons - and Winger may represent a new era.
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