Bradley Beal, Wizards 'Exploring' Trade; Magic Interested?
A rival of the Orlando Magic could look very different when next season begins.
According to ESPN, the Washington Wizards are considering the possibility of trading star shooting guard Bradley Beal.
"As rival teams begin reaching out to the Washington Wizards to explore the possibility of trading for three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal, team president Michael Winger and Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports are staying in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise," ESPN reports.
Beal, who turns 30 this month, may not be at the peak of his career anymore, but he can still be a top contributor for a good team. In 40 appearances this past season, Beal averaged 23.2 points per game, a total that surpassed every Magic player this past season.
As the only team in the NBA Draft with two lottery picks, the Orlando Magic heads into the next month with flexibility.
With rising stars in Rookie of the Year winner Paolo Banchero and two-way forward Franz Wagner, Orlando could opt to keep the early draft picks and continue adding on to this "young nucleus." Or, the Magic could swing for the fences and leverage the draft picks for a proven star in this league and immediately fill a roster hole.
DraftKings Nation recently mocked up a potential trade between the Washington Wizards that see Orlando sacrificing both picks for three-time All Star guard Bradley Beal.
"This gets a bit complex, but the Wizards are eventually going to have to accept Beal isn’t the centerpiece for a contending team," DraftKings Nation writes. "The Magic get Beal to accelerate their timeline."
Ultimately, Beal would have to sign off on any deal given his no-trade clause, but if the Magic was interested, a return home to the state where he played his college ball and to a team on the rise isn't a bad tip of the iceberg in a potential pitch.
You can follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Magic? Click Here.
Follow The Magic Insider on Facebook.
Follow The Magic Insider on Twitter.
Want even more Orlando Magic news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
