Bradley Beal to Golden State Warriors is a real possibility

It might have seemed nonsensical at first, but Bradley Beal to the Golden State Warriors is becoming more realistic each day. The All-Star talent is in the midst of consecutive breakout seasons and could be traded before the deadline.

The Warriors are a franchise that has become known for stacking offensive firepower. They boasted an unprecedented lineup of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson only a few years ago – and soon, they could recreate this high-scoring dynamic by plugging in Beal in place of Durant.

It goes without saying that Beal is far from the scorer that KD is. However, Beal is leading the NBA at 34.7 points per game. He has been blazing hot from the floor for two straight years and he can undoubtedly help put the Dubs over the top.

The NBA’s leading scorer, Bradley Beal, could be traded before the deadline – and the Golden State Warriors are a real possibility.

Let’s first address whether or not the Warriors have enough assets to trade for Beal. With Andrew Wiggins to match salary, an upcoming lottery pick in a loaded draft, and a handful of future picks of their own, I’d say it’s safe to assume the Dubs can compete with any package the rest of the league has to offer.

But, more importantly, the Washington Wizards pledged to trade Beal to a team of his wishing if he demands a request. This means that the power ultimately lies in Beal’s hands – and if he wants to join the Dubs, all he has to do is say the word. Considering Beal has become the first player in NBA history to lose 10 straight 40 point games and his team is dead last in the East, I think it’s possible his frustrations boil over sometime soon.

Okay, so then what? Beal adds explosive scoring to a team with Stephen Curry – but does this make the Warriors a title contender? I think so.

The Warriors’ biggest issue right now is relieving pressure off of Curry. Sure, the defense isn’t what it used to be, but Kelly Oubre, Draymond Green and James Wiseman are all more than capable of patching up holes defensively. What that bunch can’t do is score at a high enough rate to deter opponents from overloading on Curry – which they’ve done all season.

I understand that this season has been viewed as mostly a developmental year. The Warriors don’t have title aspirations and are simply looking to gain some experience under their belt. However, trading for Beal not only solidifies their spot in the playoffs but gives them a fighter’s chance at running to a championship.

Next season, when Klay Thompson returns, Beal will slot in next to the big three and act as the league’s deadliest tertiary scorer. This much offense will be difficult to compete with on a nightly basis for the rest of the NBA. And, despite his shortcomings, Beal has been a quality team defender in the past – like in 2017 when he posted a Defensive Rating of 106.3 as the Wizards ranked 15th overall defensively.

Trading for Beal could be short-sighted as it would require a number of assets to acquire him. Nonetheless, there’s no denying Beal gives them a shot at winning a title this year and for the future – and that’s a tough bargain to pass up.