After years of being in the rumor mill, it looks like Bradley Beal may finally be on the move. As Shams Charania reported on Wednesday, “The Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal will work together to find a trade for the three-time All-Star,” and the Celtics may be a team to look out for.
Just In: The Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal will work together to find a trade for the three-time All-Star if the team elects to reset the roster in the near future, league sources tell me and @JoshuaBRobbins.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 14, 2023
There has been a link to Beal and Boston for a long time now. Plus, it is no secret that Boston will likely be looking for another star to add to the roster to push them over the hump in seek of championship number 18.
But is this a move the Celtics should make? Here are the pros and cons of the Celtics adding Beal to the squad:
Pros and Cons of the Celtics Trading for Bradley Beal
Pros:
Bradley Beal is a Great Player who Could Benefit a Championship Contender Like the Celtics
Perhaps the most obvious benefit to trading for Beal is that he is simply a great player. This is especially true on the offensive side of the ball. Beal has averaged over 20 PPG every season he has played since 2016-2017. He is also a career 37.2% 3-point shooter and has only gotten better over time. Adding a perennial scorer like Beal is a no-brainer for a team looking to win a title.
Jayson Tatum is Very Close to Beal
Beal and Jayson Tatum are childhood friends from St. Louis, Missouri. The two have shown support for each other since being in the league together, and it can be safe to assume teaming up is something they would like to do. The chemistry is there off the court, and the play style of both stars should complement each other on the court as well.
Beal thrives as the primary option, but proved he can play second fiddle to guys like John Wall and Russell Westbrook. Having Tatum to share the offensive load with could be what the Wizards star needs to excel on a contending team.
Beal is Under Contract for the Foreseeable Future
With Beal having signed his contract extension last offseason, the Celtics hypothetically would not have to worry about trading key pieces just for a rental. This was a major concern of a potential deal back when the Celtics were linked to guys like Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis. Beal is under contract through the 2026-2027 season and would be one fewer headache for the Celtics to endure for the next few offseasons.
There is Interest in Beal from Other Rivals and Contenders
Although the report of Beal possibly being on the move is still fresh, we are already seeing some teams around the league expected to be interested in the Wizards star. Most notably the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, the team that eliminated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals this past postseason. Acquiring Beal would obviously prevent the Heat or any other Celtics rivals from adding him to the roster, which alone is a valuable power move that could help the Celtics.
Cons:
Trading for Beal Would Almost Inevitably Require Trading Jaylen Brown
To address the elephant in the room, it is tough to imagine a trade that sees Beal end up in Boston without seeing Jaylen Brown involved. It is not impossible, though. The Celtics do have other contracts to match a trade for Beal, but it would not make sense for the Wizards to essentially give Beal up for nothing.
Splitting up Tatum and Brown has been a discussion since they became the stars in Boston, and this season seems like the most realistic chance of something coming from it. The Celtics failed to win a championship again, and Brown’s contract expires at the end of next season. Tatum has made it clear that he wants Brown to stay with Boston. However, it is yet to be seen what Brown wants for his future. That said, trading Brown for Beal is likely not the ideal way to move on from Brown.
While Beal is a great player, he would mostly be great in Boston alongside Brown, not in place of him. Brown is a better fit for Boston, is younger, and is simply the better player. A Brown-Beal swap is likely not enticing for the Celtics.
Beal is No Rookie Anymore
Beal is turning 30 at the end of June. While that in its own is not an issue, again his contract goes through the 2026-2027 season. At that point, he will be 34 years old and on the flip side of his prime. To put that into perspective, Tatum will only be 29 at that point, while Brown will just be 30. This may not be worth it in the end and could actually hurt the Celtics’ title chances down the line.
Likewise, depending on what the Celtics trade, acquiring Beal may not be as beneficial to the Celtics’ short-term plans either. This is especially the case if it involves trading away Brown.
In all, the Celtics have plenty of decisions to make this offseason. Trading for Beal may be one of those decisions. Ultimately, it all comes down to what Brad Stevens’ plans are and what his visions are for the team. If Stevens thinks adding Beal from the Wizards is the right move, then theoretically it could be worth it to strike a deal. Beal would reunite with his childhood friend in Jayson Tatum. Beal also gets a change of scenery and is in position again where he is not the top option. This complementary role could be great for Beal.
On the flip side, the Celtics would almost certainly have to give up Brown to make this happen. In that case, it is tough to imagine this trade would not be a wash or a downgrade for Boston. Only time will tell what ends up happening. What is certain, however, is that Beal to Boston will be talked about until something is officially done. This will be certainly an interesting story to keep an eye on for the offseason.
