Do the Wiz have to move Beal before the deadline?

[Goldstar88]

Beal is under contract through next year and then he can become an UFA.  If you are the Wizards, do you have to move him before the trade deadline in order to maximize return? I would think a team trading for him this year and having him for the remainder of this season and next would be willing to give up quite a bit more in terms of assets, vs a potential one year rental with an off-season trade. He’s clearly not happy in Washington and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he (formally) requests to be moved.

If/when he becomes available what do you anticipate the asking price will be considering what Houston received for Harden? Obviously any team could use a player of Beals caliber, but which teams have the assets to obtain him and where would he be the best fit?

[NKY fan]

If wizards promised him the 5 yr max in 2022 he probably stays and then requests to be moved somewhere. It might make the most sense for both parties. So he will have to embrace being on a bad team for 2-3 more years then find his way on a contender. It is also possible that they move Westbrook (might not be impossible if he is healthy and play like last night consistently lol) and clear cap space to sign good role players. They might even get a very high pick this year and do something with it. They have a ton of options and have refused to blow it up completely in the past.
And to top it off I don’t want Beal. Let him be the alpha on some other team.

[PhoSita]

No, but I do think they'll need to trade him before the start of next season.

[Goldstar88]

No, but I do think they'll need to trade him before the start of next season.

So you don’t think it will impact his trade value at all, moving Beal in the off-season and him becoming an UFA at the end of that year,  vs trading him to a playoff caliber team this year, who can potentially contend this season and next?

[Goldstar88]

If wizards promised him the 5 yr max in 2022 he probably stays and then requests to be moved somewhere. It might make the most sense for both parties. So he will have to embrace being on a bad team for 2-3 more years then find his way on a contender. It is also possible that they move Westbrook (might not be impossible if he is healthy and play like last night consistently lol) and clear cap space to sign good role players. They might even get a very high pick this year and do something with it. They have a ton of options and have refused to blow it up completely in the past.
And to top it off I don’t want Beal. Let him be the alpha on some other team.

I think that’s highly unlikely. You really think he’s going to want to stay on a horrible team for the next 2-3 year and essentially waste a way a good portion of his prime to make a few million more per year? Harden would have made more money staying in Houston and Same with AD if he stayed in New Orleans. These players want their money. But a lot of them want to compete and win games as well.

[PhoSita]

No, but I do think they'll need to trade him before the start of next season.

So you don’t think it will impact his trade value at all, moving Beal in the off-season and him becoming an UFA at the end of that year,  vs trading him to a playoff caliber team this year, who can potentially contend this season and next?

I think all manner of trades are going to be trickier this season, because it's harder for teams to really know where they stand heading toward the post-season.  And you can't necessarily look forward to home playoff games with fans in the seats.


I think a lot of teams will have a clearer sense of what they're willing to give up to get Beal by the summertime, looking ahead to next season.

[wdleehi]

They should.   This is likely the highest point if value they will have for him. 

[Csfan1984]

They should.   This is likely the highest point if value they will have for him.

+1
Sell high. His value will only drop.

[nickagneta]

No, but I do think they'll need to trade him before the start of next season.

So you don’t think it will impact his trade value at all, moving Beal in the off-season and him becoming an UFA at the end of that year,  vs trading him to a playoff caliber team this year, who can potentially contend this season and next?

Beal could agree to opt in to his player option before the trade if it helps get him somewhere he wants to be. 

Or, Beal might be able to be extend and traded next off-season. Not 100% sure of this given his player option.

In these scenarios, the team getting him and giving up a raft of picks can have him longer than just a year.