Report: Kings and Wizards have discussed trade for Bradley Beal. Can they get a deal done?
Kings general manager Monte McNair will explore all possibilities in the NBA draft, trades and free agency in an effort to build on this season’s success.
One possibility could be a trade involving Bradley Beal.
The Kings are among the teams that have engaged the Washington Wizards in trade talks for Beal, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick. According to The Athletic, it is believed Beal would consider waiving his no-trade clause to come to Sacramento, but currently there does not appear to be a clear path to a deal.
Beal is a three-time All-Star who will turn 30 on June 28. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound shooting guard has averaged 22.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals over 11 seasons with the Wizards since coming out of Florida as the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2021.
Beal is entering the second year of a five-year, $251 million contract. He is owed $46.7 million next season. He will make $50.2 million in 2024-25 and $53.7 million in 2025-26. He has a player option for $57.1 million in 2026-27.
Beal played al 82 games for the Wizards in 2017-18 and 2018-19, but over the past four seasons he was limited to 57, 60, 40 and 50 games due to a variety of injuries.
Beal averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season while shooting 50.6% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range. He would join with All-NBA Third Team point guard De’Aaron Fox to form one of the best backcourts in the NBA if the Kings can find a way to acquire him.
Matching Beal’s salary would be difficult for the Kings. They could include Kevin Huerter ($15.7 million), Richaun Holmes ($12 million) and draft capital in a deal, but they would still be well short of the $46.7 million Beal will earn next season. Sacramento might need to include some combination of Malik Monk ($9.9 million), Keegan Murray ($8.4 million) and Davion Mitchell ($5 million).
Murray was an All-Rookie First Team selection after averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds last season. He shot 41.1% from 3-point range and broke the rookie record with 206 3-point goals. The Kings would be reluctant to include Murray in a trade for Beal, but the Wizards might not be willing to make a deal with Sacramento that doesn’t include Murray.
This story was originally published June 15, 2023 at 1:33 PM.
