Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal’s best option may be to stay put

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 11: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards warms up before playing against the Phoenix Suns at Capital One Arena on January 11, 2021 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 Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 11: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards warms up before playing against the Phoenix Suns at Capital One Arena on January 11, 2021 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 Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Bradley Beal has been one of the hottest names on the NBA trade market. But his best bet may be to stay with the Washington Wizards.

Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking.

How in the world could Bradley Beal‘s best resolute option be to stake long-term claiming territory with this Washington Wizards franchise that’s wasted years of his one-of-a-kind talent?

And believe me, I myself wrestled with resignations as I whizzed my own head around the implausible idea.

But hear me out.

It may be a far-fetched trek, but the journey to that question’s answer begins with the painstakingly obvious: Bradley Beal needs help.

Immediately.

Related Story. Grading four-team James Harden blockbuster trade. light

I’m talking like – slapping a bright red “help wanted” sign on the team’s front office doors as if they were a temporary hiring agency wouldn’t do justice to the urgency with which Washington requires assistance.

Their basketball operation is about as chaotic as the events that transpired throughout the nation’s capital as of late.

Okay, that’s hyperbole – but you get the gist – it’s a complete firestorm at the Washington Wizards’ home front.

And Beal is fully aware of it.

Bradley Beal is NBA trade topic No. 1

His name has been one of the most circulated in the NBA’s bustling trade-talk rumor mill (it may be second only to James Harden‘s in terms of frequency), and that’s in large part due to the tryingly long rap-sheet of dominant scoring outputs he’s posted up to this point – only to see his troupe succumb to mediocre losses due to a lack of aid.

His team just can’t seem to buy a winning record, which points directly to their porous woes on the defensive end.

Beal put their shortcomings into his own candid words: “we can’t guard a parked car.”

Despite the hilarity of that statement, Beal’s right.

Washington’s played in 11 games up to this point. And while it’s still wildly early, their current trends are pointing to the same trajectory that’s seen them take a dumpster-dive into the league’s bottom realms in recent years.

They’re a putrid 3-8 thus far, and if that’s not a rotten enough encapsulation of their struggles, their statistics emanate a horrid funk that repulses fans around their home base with its stench.

They’re ranked 27th in the association in defensive rating (114.4) according to NBA.com, and are relinquishing the league’s second-worst points total per outing (121.3).

Want more? Oh, it gets worse, believe me.