2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

I think some have been a little too quick to dismiss Beal as a trade target, Buha and the Wizards' reporter for the Athletic just published a piece on it today. Before Wall got hurt/left and Beal had to become the primary ballhandler, he was a good 3-point shooter on high volume. Offensively, I think he'd be a nice fit with LeBron and AD. While Russ has been more useful this season, he's still a $47 million dollar player that really can't play with LeBron at all. The difference between that and a "star" level player that actually fits is enormous offensively.

Beal wasn't the same awful defender before he became the #1 guy in Washington either. With Beal covering the need for more playmaking outside of LeBron, you could go a little bigger in the backcourt and start him and Reaves. Reaves/Beal/LeBron/AD + some wing we're able to find (because I think this is a move more for next season) would be good enough defensively and very good offensively IMO. Beal's contract looks awful but that's just going to be the market rate for Top 25 or so players going forward.

If the opportunity to trade Russ + 2 FRPS for Beal arises before the deadline, f*** it I say do it.

 

Bradley Beal has a guaranteed contract of 206 million dollars through 2027, and he hasn't played in over 60 games since 2018-19. Pass...he's not a scrub but I wouldn't go for that deal.

 

Averaging 50 games a year for the past 5 years, a team would have to be stupid to give this guy more than a 2-year deal with a team option. And forget about coming near his old pay, he produces like a 17-18 million player. 31% from 3 last season, 33% this year... 20/9 guy, a couple blocks is nice but he is like a 3rd-4th tier star. 52%-53% from 2 is no biggy for 7'3" guy.

Rather have Myles Turner, 17/8 on far less attempts, 62% from 2, 42% from 3, 2.2 blocks. Makes far less.

 

I'm still thinking that Myles Turner is the best option for the short and long term. He fits the Milwaukee Bucks type of scheme, that employs multiple bigs with the ability to hit the outside shot. His defensive presence would be similar to Brook Lopez for us, and he would be on reasonably cheap contract. Of course there is the injury risk factor, he usually gets hurt after January, but at 26 years old, there had to be some reason he would be available for a 20-25 million dollar contract, considering what I listed above. I think he'd fit like a glove next to AD, we can find Lebron's replacement with his salary when he retires. 2FRP is still a steep price considering his injury history, but he's a much better option than Beal or Lavine IMO.

 

similar value to myles turner, imo. he's probably wise to opt out, though. the FA market will be pretty weak, and someone will get desperate enough to hand him a 4/100 type deal i bet.

 

We have to see who actually ends up on the market, but this upcoming FA can't possibly be any worse than it was this summer. This summer was terrible.

 

IDK...We complain about Westbrook's salary handicapping the team, and limiting us to signing mostly vet mins, but then we contemplate chasing guys that will be making even more money on long term deals?

 

The unicorn is dead. He’s shine has completely worn off and revealed an average run of the mill tall horse.

 

Not me. This would be stupid, but right in line with the Mystery Star Chasing of our FO.

 

Welcome to the club

 

Also got some additional names on the watch list (they've all been linked to us elsewhere)

Also from the article on why we're not making a big move

 

Pat Bev, Nunn and 1FRP


Lmao

Right??!! I can't understand some people


Trent Jr is leaning to opt out, so Toronto will probably move him. We should poke them

 

Well the problem is more so that vet min players can't cover up the inherent terrible fit of Westbrook with LeBron and AD. If you have an actual Big 3 that fits well and compliment each other the supporting cast of vet mins thing is fine. If we had the opportunity to trade Russ for Steph or Damian Lillard we'd obviously do it without a second thought because those guys are exceptional fits with LeBron and AD. I just think Beal is, while not that as clean a fit as those guys, is still a good fit and a vastly better one than Russ.

I agree with you though that Turner/Hield would have been the best option. The Lakers Exceptionalism guys had a good breakdown before the season of how Hield and Turner would help to put LeBron and AD in the best positions to succeed on both ends of the court. I would've been fine doing that trade for both FRPs.

 

I disagree completely with the three star build. Championship Squads always have depth and there just isn’t enough money to go around to build this with three stars aboard. I think it can only work when all three are at or a year from their prime- like what Miami had with Wade, LeBron, and Bosh. With AD’s injury history, his body is pretty much a 38 year old’s when it comes to games missed and old man LeBron can only win so many battles against Father Time.

 

Oh boy, here we go…

 

I can completely see this.

 

I feel bad for The Eagle if he has to play one quarter with Westbrick. He’s going to text LeBron immediately after the first game and say:”WTF man! You wanted to play alongside this dude????”