After losing out on the opportunity to trade for Russell Westbrook on Thursday, the Miami Heat are reportedly continuing their attempt to acquire a second star to team up with Jimmy Butler.
One potential target could be Bradley Beal, the two-time All-Star for the Washington Wizards who recently turned 26. On Friday, Bam Adebayo dug up Beal’s past, while recruiting him in the process.
Since Beal won’t become a free agent until the summer of 2021, the Heat can only acquire him via a trade. Goran Dragic would likely have to be involved, especially because he has one year remaining on his contract at about $19.2 million.
In seven seasons in the NBA, all with the Wizards, Beal has averaged 19.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 3.84 percent from three-point range. In the 2018-19 season, he posted career-high averages of 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocked shots per game.
Other rumored star targets for the Heat include Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love and perennial All-Star Chris Paul. Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder by the Houston Rockets in return for Westbrook, along with two future first-round draft picks, and it’s been rumored that the Thunder don’t intend to keep him. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Heat are the favorites to land him.