After a whirlwind of a day in the NBA, James Harden is officially a Brooklyn Net. With Harden off the market, is it time for the Sixers to target the next best thing, Bradley Beal?
Of the players realistically (for the most part) available, Bradley Beal is the only player somewhat close to that Harden tier. To be clear, there is a steep talent difference but Beal is still a top 20 (maybe top 15) player in this league.
It’s already been reported that the “Bradley Beal Watch Has Begun“. In that report, the Sixers were listed as a potential match.
The Sixers are by no means desperate for a big-time trade. Before the recent rash of COVID across the league, they were atop the Eastern Conference. A quick three-game losing streak made many forget but the team seems to be back on track.
The season is still young though and as time goes on, the team may give Daryl Morey reason to pursue a player like Beal. As it stands, the Sixers are currently tied for second in the East.
Considering who’s’ been missing for Philly over the past few games, it’s impressive they’re still near the top.
Morey though is a wise individual who will consider every option to launch this team further into contention. If that’s adding a role player via free agency or the trade exception then he’ll do that. If it’s trading for a fringe starter, then he’ll do that. He would also make the move for a Bradley Beal if he felt it was in the team’s best interest.
The question remains though, what would the Sixers have to give up for Beal?
The Bradley Beal Deal
The price for a Bradley Beal is understandably high. Could you get him for Harris and your entire future (Shake, Tisse, Maxey)? Maybe? Probably not?
If the Wizards move on from Beal they’ll be entering full rebuild mode and likely won’t want Harris’ contract on the books.
Much more likely, the deal starts with Ben Simmons. Morey has been hesitant in including Simmons in deals and rightfully so. Bradley Beal may be the type of player to get Morey to budge.
Philadelphia Receives: Bradley Beal
Washington Receives: Ben Simmons and a lottery-protected 2021 first-round pick
The Sixers are able to gain their new offensive star and still have the pieces for a couple more deals to round out the roster.
Beal is a dream fit next to not only Joel Embiid but all Tobias Harris and Seth Curry. The offensive fire-power of this team could potentially keep up against Brooklyn and the Sixers depth advantage could end up the deciding factor in a head-to-head matchup.
Washington meanwhile meets their future in Ben Simmons. Many are quick to claim Washington wouldn’t be interested in Simmons because of Russell Westbrook. That frankly is not the case.
If you think for one second that an injured 32-year-old Westbrook is what’s standing between Simmons becoming a Wizard then I don’t know what to tell you. There’s zero chance the Wizards balk at Simmons because they think he’s “redundant” with Westbrook.
The Wizards would have their new foundational piece and a first-rounder to boot. It should be a no-brainer for Washington but they’re an unbelievably stubborn team.
As we get closer and closer to the trade deadline the rumblings in Washington will only intensify. Expect the Sixers’ name to be at the forefront of every Beal rumor going forward.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
