MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 29: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on January 29, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Bradley Beal will be eligible to sign a supermax contract extension with the Washington Wizards this summer. And based on recent reports, he might be ready to sign that deal.
On Thursday, Beal told Wizards reporters that “it’s fair” to say that he’s leaning towards re-signing with Washington. Obviously, a lot can change in a few months, but that’s where his head is right now.
3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards
The 28-year-old superstar is currently sidelined as he deals with a wrist injury that will hold him out for the remainder of the season, as he underwent surgery to repair the issue.
At the beginning of the season, the Wizards were looking like a bonafide playoff team. Beal was having a down year, but everyone else around him was picking up the slack.
However, they hit a slump midway through the season and are now fighting just to get into the play-in tournament. And right now, that doesn’t look very likely.
Beal has played in Washington for his entire career, despite constant rumors that he is planning to leave. For the past few years, all the media has talked about is how Beal could end up leaving the Wizards very soon.
But through all of this, he’s remained loyal to the Wizards – but for how much longer will that remain true? Will his patience wear thin this offseason?
For the first time, Beal will have full control over where he wants to sign, so maybe he’ll choose a change of scenery. If Beal does decide to leave Washington, what teams are most likely to steal him away?
Washington Wizards this summer. And based on recent reports, he might be ready to sign that deal.</p>
<p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33413989/bradley-beal-says-fair-say-leaning-re-signing-washington-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On Thursday</a>, Beal told Wizards reporters that “it’s fair” to say that he’s leaning towards re-signing with Washington. Obviously, a lot can change in a few months, but that’s where his head is right now.</p>
<h2>3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards</h2>
<p>The 28-year-old superstar is currently sidelined as he deals with a wrist injury that will hold him out for the remainder of the season, as he underwent surgery to repair the issue.</p>
<p>At the beginning of the season, the Wizards were looking like a bonafide playoff team. Beal was having a down year, but everyone else around him was picking up the slack.</p>
<p>However, they hit a slump midway through the season and are now fighting just to get into the play-in tournament. And right now, that doesn’t look very likely.</p>
<p>Beal has played in Washington for his entire career, despite constant rumors that he is planning to leave. For the past few years, all the media has talked about is how Beal could end up leaving the Wizards very soon.</p>
<p>But through all of this, he’s remained loyal to the Wizards – but for how much longer will that remain true? Will his patience wear thin this offseason?</p>
<p>For the first time, Beal will have full control over where he wants to sign, so maybe he’ll choose a change of scenery. If Beal does decide to leave Washington, what teams are most likely to steal him away?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #1 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 23: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards speaks with Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics after the game at Capital One Arena on January 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards: Boston Celtics</h2>
<p>This rumor has been the most common one when it comes to teams making a run at Bradley Beal. He’s been linked to the Boston Celtics for what seems like an eternity at this point.</p>
<p>And while most people are probably tired of hearing about it, it’s not difficult to see why people have made the connection. Beal has close ties with Boston’s star player – Jayson Tatum.</p>
<p>Tatum and Beal grew up together in St. Louis, where Beal used to mentor Tatum. Now, the pair are very close friends whose relationship is well-documented all over social media.</p>
<p>Just last year, a lot of people were talking about how the C’s should trade away Jaylen Brown in exchange for Beal. But in reality, Boston would likely attempt to pair Beal alongside both Tatum and Brown.</p>
<p>Although the Celtics won’t have a ton of cap space, they do have the means to make a sign-and-trade work. Since not a lot of teams will have cap space this summer, that’s going to be the case with most teams who pursue Beal.</p>
<p>While the Celtics may choose to stick to their defensive-minded scheme and not pursue Beal, if the opportunity presents itself, don’t be surprised if Beal decides to ditch Washington in favor of joining forces with his childhood friend.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #2 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-442652" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237218525.jpeg" alt="3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1237218525.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1237218525-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 13: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets guards Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Ball Arena on December 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards: Denver Nuggets</h2>
<p>Don’t sleep on the Denver Nuggets. After a couple of seasons of watching Nikola Jokic try to carry an injury-plagued roster through the playoffs, maybe they’re ready to win now.</p>
<p>Adding Bradley Beal to the mix would put another superstar-caliber player alongside Jokic, allowing him to have a true secondary option that can take some of the weight off his shoulders offensively.</p>
<p>Sure, Jamal Murray has been great when he’s been on the court, but imagine having both Beal and Murray together alongside Jokic. That’d give the Nuggets one of the best Big 3s in the league.</p>
<p>But how would the Nuggets go about adding Beal, you might ask. Well, the answer is simply – Michael Porter Jr. If they really wanted to pull the trigger, they could make that sort of sign-and-trade work.</p>
<p>Again, this could be considered a risk on the Nuggets’ part, as they would be trading in youth for a win-now piece. However, it could also pay off nicely for them, as Beal is very clearly the better player right now when comparing him and Porter Jr.</p>
<p>So, would Denver want to take that risk if it meant a shot at winning a championship with Beal and Jokic? Who knows. But if Beal got the chance to leave Washington in favor of playing with a player like Jokic, that seems like a no-brainer.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #3 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 18: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards talks to Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams most likely to steal Bradley Beal from the Wizards: Philadelphia 76ers</h2>
<p>Is this idea absolutely insane? Yes. Could it be possible through a sign-and-trade? Yes. Would the Philadelphia 76ers immediately become one of the scariest teams in the league? Yes.</p>
<p>According to Ben Simmons, the 76ers held up trade talks because Joel Embiid wanted to play with Bradley Beal. Yes, James Harden was technically the backup plan.</p>
<p>Embiid was talking to Beal all the time, but Daryl Morey wanted to go get his guy in James Harden. So, what if, just a few months later, all three of them could play together?</p>
<p>A backcourt pairing of Harden and Beal with Embiid in the frontcourt would be even more of a nightmare than the 76ers already are for the rest of the league.</p>
<p>This trade would require the Washington Wizards to take back Tobias Harris in a sign-and-trade, but if the 76ers sweeten the pot a bit, then there’s no reason for the Wizards not to take that. (Especially if Beal wants to leave anyway.)</p>
<p>So, could a Beal-Harden-Embiid trio be staring the NBA in the face not too long from now? Maybe. Because if Beal got the chance to play with those two, he’d likely leave Washington for Philadelphia in a heartbeat.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA MVP Ladder Week 20" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/02/nba-mvp-ladder-week-20/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/04/steal-bradley-beal-wizards/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/02/nba-mvp-ladder-week-20/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA MVP Ladder Week 20 </a> </div>
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