Bradley Beal’s decision to re-up with the Wizards on a max contract extension could have big implications that affect even the Portland Trail Blazers.
The impending class of high profile free agents in 2021 is still two years away, yet the first domino has already fallen. Bradley Beal has made the decision to commit to Washington for an additional two years on a max extension, which will take him through the 2023 season. This move could change the future landscape for the Portland Trail Blazers in several ways.
Despite the fact the Wizards have been stuck in relative NBA purgatory — not advancing past the second round in the playoffs since 1979 — Beal made a business-oriented decision to capitalize on his financial earnings while he still can.
The second year of Beal’s extension is a player option, which directly coincides with his tenth year in the NBA. Once a player has spent a decade in the league, they qualify for a higher tier when negotiating max contracts. He will be 29-years-old when that time comes, just in time to cash out while he’s still in his prime.
Let’s take a look at a few ways this move will affect the Blazers.
Portland off the board as a trade destination
While it was always a long shot, many in the Portland media circle had previously advocated for the Blazers making to get Beal. While they’d be a bit undersized and probably struggle, the offensive firepower on a team consisting of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Beal would undeniably be a threat to contend with the best of them.
Ultimately, Washington’s asking price would probably be too high in this theoretical situation. Portland would also have to outbid other suitors. While it is a fun fantasy, mortgaging the future for a roll of the dice on three of the league’s best guard was never going to be a wise decision. At least now the unwarranted trade rumors will finally be silenced.
Likewise, Denver won’t benefit from Beal
As far as trade rumors and speculation go, no team has been more often cited as an ideal trade partner for Beal than the Denver Nuggets. Already considered on of the top teams in the Western Conference, the Nuggets would be even more dangerous with Beal on their roster.
Currently, Denver owes the quartet of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Will Barton $97.5 million in the 2021-22 season, the last year before Beal finally hits free agency. Adding Beal to that core would push Denver past the cap room, before considering any financial obligations to the bench unit and overall depth. Jokic and Murray are presumably untouchable, while Harris and Barton aren’t particularly attractive trade chips considering what other teams could offer.
At last, a star content on staying in the East
In the past two years alone, a plethora of NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, and D’Angelo Russell have all migrated to the Western Conference. Others like Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Mike Conley have realigned themselves onto stronger Western contenders. Meanwhile, game-changing young players like Donovan Mitchell, Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson continue to rise through the ranks.
Point here is, there is already an oversaturation of incredibly talented players in the Western Conference playoff picture. For the first time in a long time, it seems like any team could come out on top. For that reason, let’s just appreciate the fact Beal is the rare star that actually opted to remain rooted in the East.