Bradley Beal Trade Rumors: Star Remains Committed to Wizards Ahead of Deadline

Bradley Beal isn't going anywhere.

According to Ava Wallace of the Washington Post, the Wizards aren't actively shopping the superstar guard and Beal isn't looking to be traded:

"Like most teams around the league, Washington (15-26) isn't looking at a bombshell deal come 3 p.m. ET Thursday—one blockbuster trade in a season is enough, and nothing with Beal's situation has changed. The All-Star guard has not indicated he wants a trade, according to people with knowledge of the situation, and Washington has not made him available for one."

If Beal actually was on the trade block, half of the league would probably come calling. The 27-year-old currently leads the NBA in scoring (32.1 PPG) while adding 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three. 

He's having arguably his best season and seems likely to have another four or five years of prime basketball left. 

But at some point, the Wizards are going to have to pick a lane. For years with Beal they've generally been stuck between being true title contenders and simply bottoming out and rebuilding. That's fine if you consistently make playoff runs but, barring a strong second half, the Wizards look likely to miss the postseason for the third straight season. 

Beal is under contract for next season at $34.5 million and has a $37. 2 million player option for the 2022-23 campaign that he'll likely decline. Perhaps he'll choose to re-sign in Washington, but if the Wizards aren't able to build a winner before then, there's always the possibility that he'll depart.

Washington won't want to lose him for nothing, meaning we'll likely be recycling the same trade speculation this offseason and before next year's trade deadline as well. For the time being, all indications are that Beal wants to remain with the Wizards. 

But if he truly has title aspirations, the clock is ticking in Washington.