The Washington Wizards enter the NBA offseason with significant uncertainty regarding their future. Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis can become two of the top NBA free agents this summer, with departures opening the door to a potential rebuild and a Bradley Beal trade.
Beal has repeatedly surfaced in NBA trade rumors in recent years, with teams waiting for the All-Star guard to demand a trade. However, Beal has remained committed to the Wizards throughout his entire career and signed multiple contract extensions with the club.
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Some around the league believe Beal’s commitment to Washington could change. Kuzma and Porzingis are expected to decline their player options, becoming free agents. It opens the door to a scenario where the Wizards, who won 60 combined games over the last two seasons, could lose two key starters in free agency.
- Bradley Beal stats (2022-’23): 23.2 PPG, 5.4 APG, 50.6% FG, 36.5% 3PT, .099 WS.48
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up, NBA insider Brian Winhorst reported that teams are keeping a close eye on the Wizards’ situation this summer. If Kuzma and Porzingis depart in free agency, rival teams will be watching to see if Beal requests a trade.
Even if Kuzma and Porzingis leave, trading Beal won’t be simple for the Wizards. If the front office wants to begin a rebuild, it will need to convince Beal to accept a trade and that’s far from the only hurdle before a deal can be made.
- Bradley Beal contract: $46.74 million salary (2023-’24), $50.2M salary (2024-’25), $53.66M salary (2025-’26), $57.128 million player option (2026-’27)
Beal structured his last contract extension to have all of the control in potential t rade talks. He’s owed more than $200 million over the next four seasons, not including a 15% trade bonus that kicks in if he is dealt.
Even if the Wizards determine they want to trade Beal, his contract will limit the number of interested suitors. Of the remaining NBA teams open to acquiring him, Beal can dictate what Washington receives in return and who he plays for.
It all makes the Wizards’ offseason one of the most fascinating to watch this offseason, with Kuzma and Porzingis’ futures serving as the first dominos that will fall.