One week after Jimmy Butler found a new home, two other all-stars could also soon find themselves on the move.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Washington Wizards have begun “giving teams the impression” that every player on their roster is available in trade discussions – including all-star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal.
Amidst the speculation it is important to note that, at the time, Washington isn’t actively shopping either player.
But the change in stance is significant. Previously neither guard had been included in trade talks and Washington’s preference, per Wojnarowski, remains reshaping the team around Wall and Beal.
The Wizards’ struggles this season, however, have left management with no choice but to explore every option available to them.
Washington is 5-11, with the second worst defensive rating in the NBA at 112.2 and a bottom-10 offensive rating to match – a numbers heavy way of saying they allow a lot of points without scoring very many.
Throughout the first 16 games of the season, Wall has averaged 20.9 points and 7.9 assists with an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 49.5, whereas Beal has posted 21.5 points per game, 3.5 assists, and has done so with an eFG% of 53.1.
Despite similar counting stats and Wall’s name recognition, Beal may be the more attractive trade piece. Starting in 2019-20, Wall is slated to make $38.15 million, and by 2022-23, his age 33 season, that number jumps to $47.3 million. That’s a lot, especially for a point guard with a history of knee injuries.
Beal, on the other hand, is 25 – three years younger than Wall – and signed to a more manageable contract (three years remaining, with the final year worth nearly $29 million), and his 3-point shooting ability make him an easy fit on most rosters.
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