With the retirement of Dwyane Wade now in their rearview mirror, the Miami Heat are now in the phase of building what they hope will be their next championship team.
That would necessitate finding a second star to pair up with recent acquisition Jimmy Butler, and they may not need to look that far or wide.
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, who has been named to the NBA All-Star team in each of the last two years, has less than a month left to decide whether to accept a three-year, $111 million contract extension.
If he declines, the Wizards would likely feel the need to trade him in the near future, lest they lose him for nothing via free agency in the summer of 2021.
The Miami Herald has reported that if Beal does indeed become a free agent that year, the Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers would be leading contenders for Beal’s services, according to an associate who’s close to Beal.
“Beal — who feels some measure of loyalty to the Wizards, according to the associate — has not given the Wizards any indication that he wants to leave, and the Wizards would not consider making him available in trade talks unless it becomes clear to them that they would lose him in free agency in 2021,” wrote Jackson.
“The associate said if Beal opts for free agency in 2021, the Heat will receive strong consideration, as would the Los Angeles teams and potentially a few others. But the Heat is definitely on his radar if he decides to move on from the Wizards — a decision that has not yet been made, according to the associate.”
Both of those teams may be looking to reload that summer, as LeBron James and Paul George could opt out of their contracts and become free agents themselves.
Beal, who turned 26 in late June, was one of just six NBA players to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game last season.