It’s an end of an era for the Washington Wizards. According to multiple reports, the Wizards agreed to a trade that will send their All-Star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns.
Reportedly, the Wizards will get a package that includes veteran point guard Chris Paul, shooting guard Landry Shamet, multiple second-round picks, and a picks swap options. The Suns, on the other hand, form a new Big 3 with Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant.
The trade is still not official, as the Wizards are trying to get a third team involved in an attempt to offload Paul and allow him to play for a contender next season.
The Washington Wizards signed Beal to a five-year, $251 million max contract last summer with the intention of building a contending team around him. However, after missing out on the playoffs in 2022-23, it became clear that the Wizards don’t have a pathway to be relevant as currently constructed.
Wizards’ new president of basketball operation Michael Winger decided to opt for a rebuild this offseason, and in order to do so, the team needed to move on from Beal and his massive contract. The issue for Washington was that Beal received a no-trade clause, which heavily limited his market.
Last week, Beal and the Wizards agreed to explore trade options, and things picked up quickly after that. Several teams reached out to make an inquiry for the player, but the Suns and the Miami Heat emerged as the most viable options. In the end, Beal wanted to go to Phoenix and used his leverage to get the Wizards to accept what looks like an extremely underwhelming deal.
Bradley Beal spent all of his 11 years as a pro with the Wizards. He earned three All-Star nods during that time while also making the All-NBA Third Team in 2021. Beal averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 50 games last season.
