While the LA Clippers will be pursuing many stars on the market, the ultimate goal is to improve the roster as much as possible without trading Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. After the first-round exit to the Phoenix Suns, the front office clarified that a rebuild was not in the equation. Therefore clearing up space and making changes is at the top of the list.
Furthermore, several teams around the league are looking to move some of their best players. However, the Clippers are set at nearly every position. They have quality point guards, one of the best duos in the league, and two competent centers in Mason Plumlee and Ivica Zubac. In fact, LA is so stacked at the wing position that they developed the nickname ‘Wingstop’ as the season went on.
On the flip side, one of the most significant issues for LA this season was that they had too much depth. This meant that contributing role players would be placed at the end of the bench due to the limited amount of minutes available. This led to inconsistency and lack of chemistry, which haunted the Clippers in the playoffs.
Moreover, the Washington Wizards are one team in the Eastern Conference that is looking to move their franchise centerpiece to a young foundation. This will allow LA to adjust the roster while acquiring a third option, one of their most extensive needs.
That said, reports were recently released that if the Wizards are ready to enter rebuild mode, they will trade their three-time all-star, Bradley Beal, to a team of his choosing.
The LA Clippers should build a proposal for Bradley Beal
If the LA Clippers made a trade and landed Bradley Beal, they would instantly become the favorites to win the NBA Finals next season. No team in the league will be able to contain Beal, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George, especially on the offensive end.
What’s more, Shams Charania, a lead NBA insider for The Athletic, recently reported that the Wizards and Beal’s party would search for a trade destination. This is due to the ‘no trade clause’ component of his max contract with Washington.
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
Furthermore, Beal was interested in joining the Clippers years ago, but LA was not properly positioned to make a blockbuster trade. Now, that is not the case, as the front office can put together a trade package that will impress the Washington Wizards.
On that note, this proposal has the LA Clippers receiving Bradley Beal for Terance Mann, Bones Hyland, Robert Covington, and Marcus Morris Sr. Additionally, LA’s front office will add in draft compensation to assure the Wizards that they will be set for many years to come.
Although this may seem like the Clippers are offering too much, Beal is one of the best shooting guards in the league when fully healthy. There is no doubt that head coach Tyronn Lue could lead this team to the NBA Finals if all goes as planned.
Not to mention Beal’s scoring burst would complement Russell Westbrook’s offensive game exceptionally well. Moreover, trading for Beal could lead to Westbrook resigning as these two played together in Washington. It is quite literally the perfect scenario for the LA Clippers.
Is trading for Bradley Beal a smart move for the future of the LA Clippers?
If the LA Clippers were to go through with this proposal, they would be trading all their young pieces away for an elite scorer in Bradley Beal. Though he is almost 30 years old, he is in the midst of his prime and needs the right opportunity to thrive.
Furthermore, LA will trade away their best young pieces, Bones Hyland and Terance Mann. These guys dominate on the court and represent the LA Clippers off the court to the best of their abilities.
What may go overlooked in this proposal is that the LA Clippers will also be moving on from Robert Covington and Marcus Morris Sr. This is great for the front office as these two did not perform as expected for head coach Tyronn Lue. This will also clear up room on the bench, giving players like Norman Powell and Nicolas Batum more minutes to work with.
The only downside to trading for Beal is his health concerns. This is not a new problem for the LA Clippers, as they missed their window this season due to the injuries of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Moreover, Beal has eclipsed the 60-game mark only five times out of his 11 seasons in the NBA.
That said, this is a high-risk-high-reward trade for the LA Clippers. If everything works out, the trio of Beal-George-Leonard could make history and bring home a championship. Conversely, if injuries occur, this could be considered one of the worst trades in franchise history. LA would have lost multiple key players and draft picks for a star who cannot stay healthy.