Bradley Beal going to New York?
Beal remained adamant about not giving up on the Washington Wizards. But an influential New York Knicks executive is reportedly preparing to negotiate with Beal.
Last week, Michael Kay reported that Knicks’ vice president and senior basketball adviser William Wesley, better known as World Wide Wes, is working through alternative channels to land Beal in New York.
“I heard from a very good source that the Knicks are quietly interested in a Bradley Beal. How will this happen? He signed a long-term contract. He did not say that he wanted to be negotiated. But you forget, the Knicks have the World Wide Wes on their side. He’s been in the ears of some of Beal’s people and kind of telling them that this might be the time to press for an exchange, ”said Kay on her ESPN radio show last week.
The brightest star in the biggest market
Beal just received his first All-Star nomination as a starter, ranking first in fans, media and player votes among all Eastern Conference guards. He is leading the league in goals with a career record of 32.8 points per game in 47/34/90 separate shots. The 27-year-old star is also getting the best 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals. But despite their spectacular numbers, the Wizards are among the last three in the East, although they have won the last three games.
On the other hand, things are looking up in New York. The Knicks are in the playoff talks and are quickly becoming an attractive destination. The team’s new president, Leon Rose, along with Williams and coach Tom Thibodeau, dramatically changed New York culture.
The appeal to Beal in New York is the chance to become the biggest star in the NBA’s biggest market. And if he wins in New York, it will consolidate his legacy in basketball.
Aggressive buyer
Along with their initial success on the court, a treasure trove of choices and a $ 15 million cap, the Knicks are in a unique position to be an aggressive buyer in the trading market.
They have all their choices in the first round and two more from Dallas through the exchange of Kristaps Porzingis. In all, the Knicks have seven choices in the first round and eight in the second round in the NBA 2025 Draft.
Stefan Bondy of the Daily News reported that the Knicks are also monitoring the situation of CJ McCollum in Portland. But ESPN’s Front Office Insider and former Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks told Empire Sports Media that the Trail Blazers are not negotiating.
Beal Package
If Beal and the Wizards decide to split up, the asking price would be in James Harden’s business district.
When asked what the Wizards could look for from the Knicks in exchange for their longstanding cornerstone, Marks told Empire Sports Media that it would be necessary to give up both choices from Dallas’ first round (2021 unprotected, 2023 out of the 10 best protégés) , a minimum of two unprotected choices in the first round, exchanges of options and the second year swingman RJ Barrett.
Such a package could still leave the Knicks in a good position to compete in the East with a core of Beal, Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley, all of them under 30.
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