NBA Rumors: Assessing Future of Ray Allen, Bradley Beal and More
Aside from a few small changes, NBA teams are usually set at this point of the year as they get ready for the start of the season. However, front offices remain busy as they attempt to constantly improve the franchise.
Between looking out for potential trades, adding available free agents or simply locking up the talent on the current roster, there is a lot for general managers to do at all times of the calendar.
As a result, fans should always look out for ways in which their team is set to tweak the roster. Here is a look at the latest potential moves from around the league.
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards were expecting to be a top team in the NBA this season behind an elite young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. Unfortunately, the squad will have to compete with only half of this duo to start the year.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated provided the latest:
Despite this injury, the Wizards want to do whatever it takes to keep Beal in Washington for as long as possible, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com:
"That the Wizards will pick up the fourth-year option for the 2015-16 season on Bradley Beal's rookie contract before this one tips is a foregone conclusion. His latest injury, a left wrist fracture that required surgery, will have no negative impact on his future here or the team's plans to work out an extension this summer, multiple persons on both sides have confirmed to CSNwashington.com.
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This appears to be a smart move after the No. 3 pick in the 2013 draft showed last season that he can be a big-time scorer on a good team. He averaged 17.1 points per game while hitting 40.2 percent of his shots from three-point range. As he continues to improve, these numbers can even pick up in his third year.
Beal even improved in the postseason, averaging 19.1 points with five rebounds and 4.5 assists in 11 games.
On the other hand, the team does have to be cautious about the player's injury history, which is once again becoming an issue. The guard dealt with leg injuries in each of his first two seasons, missing a total of 35 games. With the latest wrist problem, the Wizards have to hope this does not become a trend.
Still, his talent is reason for Washington to find a way to keep him aboard for as long as he will stay.
Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets
While he might not get the respect he deserves, Timofey Mozgov continues to show he can be a dominant force in the low post for some team.
The center is coming off the best year of his career, averaging 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game. Unfortunately, he consistently finds himself behind JaVale McGee on the depth chart.
This could change early on with McGee dealing with a leg injury. Head coach Brian Shaw noted he might not be ready for the start of the season, according to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post:
Still, the real question is what will happen when they are both healthy. McGee has the athleticism, and therefore the upside, to force the Nuggets to keep seeing what they have in him. Meanwhile, Mozgov is wanted by numerous teams around the league, according to Dempsey:
"During the past calendar year, Mozgov arguably has been the Nuggets' most-coveted trade asset. Teams called last winter and throughout the summer. That's not likely to change, because with a $4.6 million salary, Mozgov is one of the best bangs for the buck in the NBA.
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According to HoopsHype (h/t Pro Basketball Talk), ESPN's Brian Windhorst stated that Cleveland appeared willing to trade for the center during the summer, but it seems apparent the Cavs were not alone in their quest to acquire Mozgov.
The question is whether the Nuggets want to keep both centers on the roster when they can instead bring in draft picks to help improve for the future. The squad went just 36-46 last season, so looking to rebuild might not be a terrible decision—especially if things go poorly in the first few weeks.
On the plus side, it seems teams will be willing to make a deal for the player whenever he becomes available, meaning the Nuggets can take their time with a decision.
As long as he stays healthy, Mozgov should be able to help the organization in some way this season.
Ray Allen, Free Agent
While the saga surrounding LeBron James' free agency was a bigger deal, the future of Ray Allen has been much more confusing.
The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn suggested in July that Allen was leaning toward following his former teammate to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and at one point, this seemed like a done deal. However, ESPN's Marc Stein noted his agent thought otherwise:
The fact that he is not yet certain if he will play next year makes things a bit more complicated.
The good news for him is there are plenty of teams interested in bringing in the all-time leader in three-point shooting if he chooses to play.
J. Michael of CSN Washington.com reported the Wizards were interested in signing the guard to replace the injured Beal, but there is a lot of competition for the veteran:
"The prospect of being a starter again with Beal's absence isn't likely to make Washington any more enticing for Allen. He'll soon be 40. Six teams have actually contacted his reps since he became an unrestricted free agent—the Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder and...the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Meanwhile, Allen also does not have to make a decision immediately. Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge noted that while the guard wants to play for a contender, he can wait and see which ones really pan out over the course of the season, via A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com:
"He may wait until All-Star break or January. And just see what teams are playing well, which teams are the healthiest and which team that he thinks that he might fit in, just in the style of play. With new coaches at some different places, he may just want to see how it unfolds before he makes a decision.
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This seems to be a pretty nice situation for anyone to be in. You do not have to do any of the work over the start of the season and can join an elite squad already in full swing.
As long as teams are willing to wait for him, this might be the smartest and likeliest move for the veteran player.
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