When news broke yesterday that the Washington Wizards were finally looking at trade possibilities for Bradley Beal, we at The Kings Herald didn’t bother to report on it. After all, Beal is a huge name on an enormous contract and has a no-trade clause. The no-trade clause likely drives down the expected return Washington will get, as does the albatross of a contract, but it means that Beal can decide whether he wants to play for a team or not. Those scenarios have, historically, ruled Sacramento out of contention.
But a new day is upon us:
Another team that’s had Bradley Beal trade talks with the Wizards: The Kings, sources tell me and @sam_amick. It’s believed Beal would consider Sacramento given his no-trade clause, but right now there does not appear a clear pathway for the two sides.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2023
Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic report that the Kings and Wizards have had conversations around Beal, and that Beal would consider waiving his no-trade clause for a trade to the Kings.
It’s important to focus on a few details here. Most importantly, the report concludes that there doesn’t seem to a be a pathway for the two sides. Beal’s contract is really hard to absorb. The Kings have De’Aaron Fox on a max contract, and will be looking to re-sign Domantas Sabonis next summer. Given the restrictive nature of the new CBA, adding Beal’s long-term cap hit would be a challenge for Sacramento, and that’s before even looking at the acquisition cost to match salaries.
Bradley Beal’s contract
2023: $46.8M – age 30
2024: $50.2M – age 31
2025: $53.6M – age 32
2026: $57.2M – age 33He hasn’t played more than 60 games since 2018, and his no-trade clause would transfer, meaning they couldn’t move him down the line without his permission.
— SactownBabyGiraffe (@TimMaxwell22) June 15, 2023
Second, the report is very specific to say that Sacramento is “believed” to be a team Beal “would consider” waiving his clause for. It’s exciting that a player of Beal’s caliber would even consider Sacramento, because despite that contract Beal is still a phenomenal player and will have several teams chasing him this summer. But the tweet is carefully worded, and that’s always worth noting.
I doubt Beal ends up a Sacramento King. Due to his contract and the long-term impacts it would have, I’m not entirely sure I want Beal to end up a Sacramento King. But it’s smart that the Kings at least kicked the tires to see what the cost would be, and it’s encouraging that the franchise is attractive enough to draw interest from star-level players.
This is what a trade could look like. I don’t know if I would do it.
Too old. Too much money. If you are going to kick a tire it better be flat. Stay yound.
I doubt this will happen, because he’s the opposite of the type of contract McNair trades for. He values value and flexibility above all else, Beal on this deal is neither of those.
But let’s look at the fit: I think he would thrive offensively. He’ll have a lot of space to work with, and would do great playing off Sabonis and Fox.
Defensively I don’t love the fit; he’s never shown to have great instincts or even a willingness to play on that end. That might be because of the big load he had to carry in recent years, but even in the Wall era is was meh in that regard.
Not gonna lie, it would be cool to get a player like Beal in next to Fox and Sabonis, but I just don’t see it happening.
Agreed 100 percent … as much as he would be great playing off the ball as you said, I remember when the Kings and Wizards (Bullets) made the Richmond-Webber deal, Grant pointed out that you should never want to get older and smaller.
I would assume that any deal to get Beal starts and ends with Keegan Murray, and we definitely would be getting older and smaller in that case.
Agree with your take, in a vacuum he’d be a great fit next to Fox and Sabonis, but the contract and his health history is prohibitive.
Hard pass. Do not want his injuries or his contract.
As much as I’ve always liked Beal, and definitely think he’d be an upgrade over Monk/Huerter/Davis, I would pass on this deal.
We just got this coach and these specific players last year, going from the lottery to the No. 3 seed in the West … if Denver winning the title taught us anything, we need to let this group marinate for two or three more years to see what we really have here before blowing it up and starting over again.
Jokic aside, Denver also showed what length across the board can do for you with the likes of Gordon, Porter and KCP.
Beal makes us smaller and probably weaker on an already suspect defensive team.
Plus, Fox and Monk seemed to have a really good chemistry last year, and neither one is in their prime yet.
Beal is in his prime right now, but who knows how much shorter his window is due to all the injuries the last couple of years.
But most importantly and most obviously, Washington is not going to just give him away … this deal most likely costs us at least Mitchell and Murray, and as much as I like Sabonis, this feels like another Haliburton situation where we let two potentially great young players get away.
Jokic aside, Denver also showed what length across the board can do for you with the likes of Gordon, Porter and KCP.
This would probably be my focus if I’m MM, try and take as many shots at finding undervalued players on cheap deals. Only take a swing on a big trade if it’s for a legit star and even then you have to factor in the salary cap moving forward.
I still think the best course of action is finding an athletic stretch 4 starting PF and a 3 and D wing; sign/draft at least two guys in each of these two categories and hope you hit on two of them.
I want no part of Beal’s contract or injury history, not to mention the amount of players and picks we would have to trade to acquire him. Hard pass.
When you factor in contracts and health, both Monk and KH are much better assets than Beal; Beal is the better player but not a better asset IMO.
Also, do not underestimate how punitive the new CBA is. Fox, Ox and Beal on max contracts would make it impossible to build around those three. You really can’t have more than two players on a max contract moving forward.
I am for MM making a win now swing, just not for Beal. The West is wide open right now. The only elite team are the Nuggets and I think we actually match up pretty well with them and would have a decent chance at beating them in a seven game series.
Reminder, the Kings lost in the first round because they’re softer than puppy crap in the paint. Beal is the opposite solution.
Are you saying Sabonis never recovered from the stomp?
Sabonis was a ghost the whole series… whether that was a thumb, from being stomped on or just being out-muscled, he can’t be the only paint presence anyhow. Their biggest need is defense and rebounding in the paint. What the Kings don’t need is a new, expensive volume shooter.
19 – 12 – 7
Pretty realistic ghost.
If Vlade was GM, I’d be like “oh God we’re about to make the worst trade of the off-season”
But with Monte I’m like 🧐. Beal’s a very talented player who’s on the market at an all time low price. I’m probably still a no on the contract and fit, but he’s worth a phone call.
I don’t want us to trade for Beal, but it’s cool that a player of his caliber is showing not just a willingness but a desire to come here. That speaks to the culture Mike Brown’s built over this last year.
Does this mean no to Beal, and his contract, at any price, or just not for what it will cost?
That contract and his injury history scares me. He’s an incredibly talented player, and we’d likely be a better team in the short term with him. But the fact that he has a no trade clause and such a huge contract means that if it doesn’t work out, we’re stuck with him. And I also don’t see us as able to make many meaningful changes with that contract on the team. I’m not sold on a core of Fox/Beal/Keegan/Sabonis as championship contenders.
The injurie history would definitely give anyone pause. I wasn’t aware the no-trade clause goes with him, I thought that once he waives it, it’s waived and gone. Agreed, that’s also a problem.
Thanks
I think Keegan is one of the many that go to DC to get Beal here.
I think they should spend while they can. Beal may not be the best decision they could make , but I wouldn’t dislike it. He’s pretty good, 23.2ppg, and over 50% from the field, and likely would be better in Sac.
Fox to DC for Beal.
Beal backing up Mitchell.
I love the idea of adding another max, contract. If he doesn’t work, it’s always easier to trade for a different max guy when you have a max slot to open up. The Westbrook trade worked out just fine for LA, and that’s one of the 3 worst contracts in the NBA. Teams that spend compete, (hello Houston) the rest go nowhere. Fox, Beal is instantly one of the best back-courts anywhere.
?
With his contract + NTC it’s a hard pass for me. We’d lose a huge chunk of our current core, which was already a playoff team, and our future flexibility goes right out the window.
Beal is an elite scorer when he plays and would no doubt thrive in our system but there’s way too many negatives to outweigh the positives in a deal for him.
Similar player who I like a lot more for Sac is DeMar DeRozan.
And he can bring his daughter too! That’s another playoff win right there!
A Beal trade has Vivek doing a Rudy Gobert stink all over it
Beal is highly over paid and rated for a often injured and volume scorer . Please say no Monte .
Lookin’ like Beal will likely be going to Miami or Phoenix.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1670126468272209923
Jeez, that contract has gotta be more than the entire GDP of some small Caribbean island countries. To play a position where the Kings are strongest. Thanks, no.
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Sacramento is reportedly among the teams Bradley Beal would consider waiving his no-trade clause for – The Kings Herald
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