Honorable Mention – Bradley Beal
The reason why I’ve included Bradley Beal here as an honorable mention and not one of the five is the simple fact that I don’t think he’s a realistic target in the least. Whereas the other five on this list could potentially be in Utah’s wheelhouse due to rumors associated with them, need, fit and other realistic factors, Beal just doesn’t quite check all the boxes.
Sure, he’d be a dream fit alongside Mitchell in the backcourt as a scorer extraordinaire and a dynamic threat in all aspects in Quin Snyder’s offense, but unfortunately, the chances of nabbing him seem slim. Sure, there have been grumblings that the Washington Wizards may be interested in trading for Derrick Favors, but it would take a lot more than that to woo Beal away from Washington.
Looking up and down Utah’s roster, I simply don’t see a way they’re able to put together an exciting enough package that gets the Wizards to part with as impressive of a figure as Beal, unless by some miracle Washington changed course and decided to only look to add expiring contracts and blow things up.
Recent reports seem to indicate that such couldn’t be further from the truth, though. Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was recently quoted saying they wouldn’t be moving any of their core trio of John Wall, Bradley Beal or Otto Porter. And while that could very well just be talk, it certainly seems that of the three, Beal is the last they should be looking to let loose.
I honestly have a hard time seeing Beal being traded at all by this year’s deadline, and I’d be extremely surprised to see him moved to the Jazz.
I suppose I could be caught off guard – after all, crazier things have happened on deadline day – but as amazing as it would be to have Beal in Salt Lake City, I’m of the opinion that it’s more worth our time to cast that dream aside and instead focus on a handful of more viable options for the Jazz.