Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal has thrust into headlines recently due to the belief that everyone on the roster is available via trade. To be fair, in saying everyone is available, perception by some is that either Beal, or he and all-star franchise point guard John Wall are included on the trading block, along with the Wizards’ supporting cast.
Washington stands at an under-performing 6-11 record, having split the last 10 games at 5-5, with a 4-5 record at home during this early juncture of the season. Having under-performed last season, it is perceived that the Wizards’ front office is in panic mode for some measure of change. To make a competitive trade or initiate a full rebuild for future assets. This is only exacerbated reports of drama during a recent Wizards’ practice, resulting in John Wall being fined for directing an expletive at Wizards head coach, Scott Brooks.
THE SOLUTION
Well, one man’s forest fire is another man’s cookout. Insert the hungry Oklahoma City Thunder. Why might the OKC Thunder be linked Bradley Beal at this time? Well, the Wizards are in a possible organizational meltdown of epic proportions, so much so that reality TV could only hope to elicit the same results with the help of writers and producers insisting on a need to spice things up for ratings. Alas, no writers are needed for this TV show. The Wizards are one episode short of becoming Game of Thrones, and need I say it: Winter is here, and his name is Sam Presti.
THE FIXER
Presti, GM of the Thunder, is a magician of sorts at the trade deadline, and was known to be fond of Beal coming out of college at Florida. There, Beal was coached by, wait for it, the current head coach of the OKC Thunder, Billy Donovan. Let’s imagine Presti attempting to rescue Bradley Beal from the turmoil in DC, by finding a way to get him into a Thunder uniform. While this may be a stretch, considering the Thunder have limited trade asset value in comparison that may entice the Wizards, one team may never be able to gauge another’s sense of desperation. It is within this logic that anything is possible, that anything being the OKC Thunder making a blockbuster trade for Bradley Beal. Let’s explore the pros and cons of why this should or should not/could not happen.
THE PROS
First let’s visit the pros. Beal is easily a top 3-5 shooting guard in the NBA and would provide much needed floor spacing for the Thunder. His play-making ability is not reliant upon having elite help next to him and would open up the floor for Russell Westbrook and Paul George to operate facing less double teams. Beal has a career three-point average of 39 percent, which is drastically higher than the Thunder’s current team season average of 31 percent.
OKC hasn’t had a starting two-guard who can provide trusted floor spacing consistently since Victor Oladipo, and Beal is arguably a better option. Beal can consistently get his points while making plays for others night in and night out. Adding him to a lineup of Russ, George, Grant, and Adams would elicit some fear into Western Conference teams. Feel free to interchange Schroeder in for Adams for a small ball lineup consisting of Schroeder at the point, Westbrook, Beal, PG-13 as the small ball four, and fan Swiss army knife fan favorite Jerami Grant as the small ball five, and this lineup’s balance off offense and defense should arguably be able to contend with most title contenders for the next two seasons at least.
Imagine what Westbrook could do with more floor spacing due to Beal being a respected shooter in this league? Less double teams for Russ with Beal and George on the wings. The Thunder are not accustomed to that much floor spacing, as opposing teams tend to have minimal respect for the team’s three ball consistency. The Thunder can struggle in half court sets due to lack of floor spacing respect, due to teams dropping into zone-like man defense clogging the paint to prevent drives to the paint, which are the Thunder’s bread and butter. Adding Beal changes this.
THE CONS
What depth take a hit in making this move? It’s possible that the team loses 2-3 players in addition to using the remaining 10.8 Mil NBA trade exception left over from the Carmelo Anthony for Schroeder trade. Salary cap implications would be steep, with the luxury tax in play over for the Thunder. No telling whether the Thunder ownership are interested in paying 300+ million for a risk this huge.
THE EQUALIZER
Only the Golden State Warriors and arguably the Boston Celtics have this luxury of star talent depth on their rosters. Houston came close, and let’s just say… “To Melo, or not to Melo” is the question in Houston right now. This move instantly puts the Thunder above the Houston Rockets roster respectively, as Houston is currently constructed, with a balance of offense, defense, rebounding, play-making, and floor spacing being in favor of the Thunder, to include bench play potential. Presti should add Beal simply on this basis alone.
THE LOGIC
My math fans, Beal = More Firepower. The type of firepower needed to compete with a Warriors team that can get hot and stay hot on any given night. The Warriors may have had a bit of drama of their own going recently, but make no mistake, they are the big dogs on campus, and everyone else is lunch-meat until proven otherwise. Eventually the dynasty must fall. Could this move put OKC in position to challenge for the western conference finals? It doesn’t hurt the Thunder’s chances if the move is there to be made, depending upon what you have to sacrifice to get it done.
THE CLOCK
Lastly, the most pressing reason of why the Thunder should be aggressive in pursuing a trade for Bradley Beal is time. Westbrook and George aren’t getting any younger. If the window to contend is here for this move, then time is of the essence. Time works two ways for the Thunder here. Why? Because Bradley Beal is a young 25-years-old, and after having missed a few games each season early in his career, he played all 82 games last season while still producing on a dysfunctional team.
With Schroeder being 24, and Beal being 25, you have the future of the Thunder core potentially already on the roster for the next 2-3 years. This alone may be valid reason to make the move. Eventually the Warriors won’t be the Warriors. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready, Presti.
Time waits for no man, woman, or team. If the Thunder have a chance to add a player who for his career is averaging 18.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arch, and 47 percent from the field, you don’t wait. You shoot your shot while the clock has time, and if you get Bradley Beal, you can’t miss. In fact, you may have just bought yourself more time.
References
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bealbr01.html
https://hoopshype.com/player/bradley-beal/page/106/
