Durant, LeBron Union Unlikely If Lakers Complete Beal Trade: Wright Explains

Bradley Beal has been strongly linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a trade that could take Brandon Ingram in the opposite direction. The Washington Wizards point guard has impressed this season despite his team’s struggles and is averaging 21.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists after 21 regular season games.

The Lakers are looking to bolster their lineup before the end of the year and have identified Beal as a potential option. However, they will have to give up one of their brightest prospects in Ingram to see the trade come to fruition.

NBA expert Nick Wright has no doubts that Beal will be an “awesome” fit alongside James, but he is unhappy about the Lakers now being ready to trade Ingram. The Lakers had a chance to trade Ingram before the start of the season and land Kawhi Leonard from San Antonio Spurs, but they chose not to and the two-time defensive player of the year was traded to the Toronto Raptors.

The Lakers prospect has had a difficult start to the season and is now being put on the chopping block, which has not gone down well with the NBA expert. He believes the team should trust in James to push them into the playoffs this season before making a move for their primary targets next summer.

The Los Angeles franchise has been heavily linked with moves for Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Leonard in recent months and Wright believes one of them will be a Laker before the start of next season. The Golden State Warriors forward and the Raptors forward will be free agents next summer, while Davis still has two years to run on his contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

However, Wright believes the Lakers hopes of landing one of the NBA big guns will take a hit if they make a trade with the Wizards for Beal before the trade deadline approaches in February.

“Bradley Beal is a slightly lesser version of Klay Thompson, and that is a compliment,” Wright told the Herd, as transcribed by the Express. “Bradley Beal would be an awesome fit next to LeBron. They had a chance four months ago to trade Brandon Ingram and get back Kawhi Leonard - they said no. They said ‘We have a plan’.”

“You cannot divert from that plan 20 games in because you are 11-9 instead of 13-7. If they had handled their business against Orlando they’re third in the west right now,” he explained referring to their two recent losses against Magic and the Denver Nuggets.

“While I understand the concerns about who’s coming there, I personally would be shocked if by the beginning of next season, the Lakers do not have either Kawhi, Anthony Davis or Kevin Durant. The Lakers clearly have a plan and a belief that they are adding one of the six best players in the league next to LeBron,” Wright added. “Trading for Bradley Beal removed that possibility cap wise. You have got to stand back and trust LeBron will get you through this season.”