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Why the Miami Heat should pursue a trade for Bradley Beal

By Sam DiGiovanni

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards defends Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards defends Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat, Bradley Beal
(Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Bradley Beal has unreal scoring abilities

Beal has long been speculated as a trade target, including for Miami. The 27-year-old All-Star is the league’s leading scorer at the moment, scoring 34.9 points per game. His scoring abilities are as well rounded as they come. He’s one of the most efficient scorers in the game out of isolation because he can score anywhere in any way.

His sky-high volume – a league-high 24.5 field goal attempts per game -doesn’t cripple his efficiency in the slightest. He is posting a true shooting percentage of 60.8 percent, the highest of his career. His per-game attempts, per-game makes and percentages in field goals and free throws are all career highs, as are his rebounds per game. He’s averaging 2.4 3-pointers per game on 37.5 percent shooting from deep.

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A trio of Butler, Adebayo and Beal would wreak havoc on the league. Beal’s fit alongside Adebayo, in particular, would be terrific. Their pick-and-rolls would be lethal – Beal scores the sixth-most points per game in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler. Adebayo scores the third-most points per game as the roller. Miami loves running dribble hand-offs with Adebayo and sharpshooters. Beal would feast off of those looks.

Bradley Beal would also be useful off the ball as an adequate floor spacer. He shoots 42.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes. His defense isn’t great, but he isn’t bad enough to be played off the floor – and it’s not like Miami doesn’t already thrive with guards that are sub-optimal individual defenders.

Given Beal’s abilities, working Beal into Miami’s system shouldn’t be a challenge. What will be challenging, however, is getting him to Miami in the first place. That would require the Wizards to begrudgingly hit the reset button, which would be a sharp turn away from the direction they want to take.

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