Bradley Beal is a potential trade target whose situation the Denver Nuggets should continue to monitor.
The Denver Nuggets may have finalized their roster over the weekend with the start of the 2020-21 season rapidly approaching but if they could have had their way, the offseason would have went much different.
Although Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday was a known target for the Nuggets when he was still a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, it appears that Denver was also keeping their eyes peeled for another star guard’s availability. According to Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, the Nuggets inquired about the availability of Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal just days before the 2020 NBA Draft.
Beal isn’t a player that’s been officially connected to Denver outside of the Nuggets acknowledging that a trade for him would likely involve talented young forward Michael Porter Jr., a non-starter for them.
Part of this is due to the unlikelihood that the Wizards actually move Beal, an overachiever who will be reunited with All-Star point guard John Wall this season (if Wall isn’t traded for Houston Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook). Washington, who had a top-10 pick in 2020 NBA Draft, will also have forwards Deni Avdija and Rui Hachimura in their core. Although Washington really should be all-in on a rebuild, they’re likely attempting to remain competitive in hopes of convincing the 27-year-old Beal to stay for a few more seasons.
That said, the Nuggets have reportedly had interest in Beal since he with the Florida Gators, even considering trading up in the 2012 NBA Draft to take him with the second overall pick (they had the 20th overall pick).
There’s no doubt that Beal, who averaged 30.5 points, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season, would improve Denver’s championship chances. He’s a strong scorer from every area of the floor and has developed into a dependable playmaker as well. Beal has also made a name for himself as a solid defender even though he’s an undersized shooting guard at 6’3.”
A trade for Beal, who makes $28.8 million this season, would likely include at least Gary Harris and Will Barton to match salaries. However, sweetening the pot with young players that aren’t MPJ could also see them include some combination of R.J. Hampton, Zeke Nnaji and Bol Bol in the deal as well.
Although not everyone will feel this way, trading this type of package for Beal is a move that would be worth it.
Whether it’s Hampton, Nnaji or Bol that’s traded, Denver’s immediate future won’t be negatively impacted since none of them were a factor in the Nuggets’ last playoff run. Although each of these players possesses great potential, they’re all long-term plays in terms of when the Nuggets expect to get the best out of them.
When it comes to the playmaking Barton and defensive stalwart Harris, Beal is as good as those two combined, playing a level of offense that they could only aspire to reach and playing defense that’s at least as solid as Barton’s.
In addition, Beal will be under contract until 2022 and has a player option for the 2022-23 season. So long as Denver is confident that Beal will remain until at least 2023, the only issue for the Nuggets is addressing the way this trade would affect their wing depth.
Nonetheless, there are almost always a few solid three-and-D options available on the free agent market. Denver could also use one of their growing number of trade exceptions to add depth and talent.
Fortunately for the Nuggets, rumors surrounding Wall and the Wizards are painting the picture of a franchise with a growing amount of dysfunction. Beal, in his desire to win, may finally make his way to Denver after eight years.