The first statements of Michael Winger, the new sports boss of the Wizards, had put everyone on the alert. By explaining that the players in a hurry to win had their exit slip, it was clear that a question was posed to Bradley Beal: does he want to participate in a new phase of reconstruction in Washington?
According to ESPN and The Athletic, the answer is no. At almost 30 years old, the back has no more time to lose and his agents will therefore work with the franchise on the various scenarios.
However, a trade is not absolutely certain. For what ? Mainly because Bradley Beal signed a gigantic $251m five-year contract extension last summer so he’s going to get $46.7m next season, $50.2m in 2024/25, $53.7m in 2025 /26 and potentially (since it is a “player option”) 57.1 million dollars in 2026/27…
With the new collective agreement which will come into force from July 1, recovering such a contract, for a player who has only been in the All-NBA Teams once (the third, in 2021) is thus a bet. A bet that can block the finances of a franchise for several seasons, and which therefore deserves consideration.
Celtics not interested
According to The Athletic, the Heat and the Bucks should nevertheless put themselves in the rows if ever the Wizards really decide to start negotiations for a transfer.
According to Brian Windhorst, the Celtics would not really be interested. Even though Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum are close, Boston is keen on Jaylen Brown and it will be virtually impossible to match the three men. The arrival of Bradley Beal would therefore necessarily be associated with the departure of Jaylen Brown, and this option seems remote.
Another element that complicates things: Bradley Beal is the only player in the league to have a “no-trade clause”, which allows him to block any transfer to a club that does not interest him.
The Wizards and Bradley Beal’s camp must therefore absolutely work together to set up an exchange and the options are therefore ultimately very limited. Finding a franchise that appeals at fullback, while providing a strong enough supply in Washington, without stripping itself too much will not be easy. And that’s probably why everyone is very careful when talking about the “scenarios” envisaged in the case.
| Bradley Beal | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | WAS | 56 | 31 | 41.0 | 38.6 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | WAS | 73 | 35 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 78.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| 2014-15 | WAS | 63 | 34 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2015-16 | WAS | 55 | 31 | 44.9 | 38.7 | 76.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| 2016-17 | WAS | 77 | 35 | 48.2 | 40.4 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2017-18 | WAS | 82 | 36 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 79.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2018-19 | WAS | 82 | 37 | 47.5 | 35.1 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | WAS | 57 | 36 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 30.5 |
| 2020-21 | WAS | 60 | 36 | 48.5 | 34.9 | 88.9 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 31.3 |
| 2021-22 | WAS | 40 | 36 | 45.1 | 30.0 | 83.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 50 | 34 | 50.6 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 23.2 |
| Total | 695 | 35 | 46.0 | 37.2 | 82.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 22.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
