NBA News: Beal hinting at future trade? Bronny James’ draft stock? More!

Morning Hoops Heads! Here are the latest NBA news headlines.

NBA news: Will Bradley Beal ask for a trade?

Bradley Beal has spent more than a decade in Washington, emerging as a star during that time even as the team went through several lean years. Most expected him to ask for a trade years ago, but he’s remained loyal thus far. That may soon change, however, based on his recent comments.

Beal is eligible to be traded this summer after signing a max contract last summer, and at 29 years old, he may finally want to leave town. If he indeed requests a trade, it would come at a good time for the Wizards, who could realistically command a huge draft haul for him.

That could be as many as four unprotected first-round picks and three pick swaps due to the Stepian rule. That sounds ludicrous, but the cost of trading for a star has risen since Rudy Gobert was traded last summer. We’ll just have to wait until free agency to see what happens, but it could be that Beal becomes the talk of the NBA if he indeed wants out.

NBA news: Bronny James as a lottery pick?

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony’s recent 2024 NBA mock draft included a surprise. LeBron James’ son Bronny James is now projected to be a top-10 pick.

Previously, he was thought of as a late first-round to an early second-round pick, and that is a major development and may affect his dad’s long-term plans. LeBron James has stated that he plans on playing with his son when he comes to the NBA. That goal may be complicated if Bronny is a high lottery pick. Would the Indiana Pacers, for example, take Bronny James, knowing that LeBron would want to sign there?

Probably, but what if he becomes overrated because drafting him is seen as a package deal? That could put unneeded pressure on him to succeed. Of course, if he’s already viewed as a top-10 pick nearly a year and a half out of the 2024 draft, he could be the real deal and go even higher.

NBA news: Bad All-Star game, bad ratings.

It’s no secret that many fans were left disappointed by the quality of the NBA All-Star game, and the numbers seemingly back that up.

Ratings for Sunday’s game tanked, and that alone could cause the NBA to go back to the drawing board. Both teams played little defense, and there were quite a few half-court 3-point attempts. Even Western Conference head coach Mike Malone sharply criticized the game.

Perhaps this game and its poor ratings will lead to a better one next season, but something clearly has to change. That’s all for now, hoops heads!