Open Thread and Trade Grab Bag 8. Bradley Beal in exchange for the future?
Win more now or win maybe more later?
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Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz?
I don’t think I do any trade with both Wiseman and the 2021 MIN 1st, and I don’t think WAS does any trade WITHOUT both Wiseman and 2021 MIN 1st, so that’s that.
ClutchPoints come up with: Beal for Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Nico Mannion, and 2021 first-round pick (from Minnesota). Which is a definite YES from me and I believe a definite “You have insulted my family and organization and the game of basketball and I am honor bound to kill you immediately” from WAS. CP seems better at graphics memes than trade predictions…
It's been said already, but I agree Beal is probably not the guy due to defensive problems alongside Klay next year.
However I strongly disagree with those who give particularly high priority to the "future" after Steph/Klay/Draymond. Future championship contention without them should not be assumed in the slightest, no matter how much potential you might see in Wiseman, or the 2021 pick, or whatever.
If there is an opportunity to add a player that moves the needle in the next few years, I believe it is the responsibility of ownership to go for it. To not do so is IMO to take the current group for granted, and if I were Steph and saw that, I would consider leaving for a real contender.
Does Beal put us on equal footing with the Lakers next year? Probably not, due to fit. What about Ben Simmons? Paul George? Kawhi? You can take the thought experiment up the NBA ladder. At some point the answer switches from no to yes, and that is the player for whom they should go all in.
The likes of a Steph/Klay/Dray combo will not come around again in our, our kids' or our grand kids or our great grand kids' lifetime.
This is Wiggins 10th year. At this point, we'll see only marginal improvement from him, if any. Wiseman is approaching as many pro games as Embiid had at Kansas. If there are big improvements to come from him (questionable how big) it won't be big soon enough to benefit our star's prime. Moses Moody, Jaden Springer or Zaire Williams won't be contributing any time soon if at all either.
I'd mortgage the future. I'd take guaranteed lottery team in 5 years to get us and them another championship.
But even Klay's return isn't going to wholly solve this team. Klay is good for maybe 6 wins/year? That still only puts us in the 4th seed in the West. Not bad, but I'd like another piece to boost our guys closer real championship contention.