NBA Rumors: Wizards Want Young Lakers Star In Draft Package For Beal

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking at all options as they try to rebuild their roster for the 2019-20 NBA wars. They are expected to skim the market for top free agent names although trade scenarios could be on the table as well.

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards has been mentioned as of late and a new element has been inserted if the trade is to gain ground. He goes by the name of Lonzo Ball.

Again, hearing the name of Ball in the mix hardly comes as a surprise. The name of the second overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft has been mentioned repeatedly, the last of which was tied up to a possible Chicago Bulls trade involving Kris Dunn. Now, the 21-year-old’s name has been mentioned in possible trade scenario involving Beal, NBC Sports reported.

There is no telling if the Wizards are actually open to trading Beal, although Washington said last season that anyone on the team was available for trade. When the smoke cleared, Beal remained a Wizard and most felt that he would eventually become the new face of the team with John Wall often out due to injury.

Beal is still owed about $56 million for the next two years before he becomes a free agent in 2021, according to Spotrac. With those numbers, there is no denying that he could be a good acquisition.

The Lakers would have to deal off Ball plus perhaps either Josh Hart or Kyle Kuzma if the trade does progress. The Lakers would have to sacrifice their young talent with the injured Brandon Ingram looming as one of the remaining remnants, Lake Show Life reported.

Depending on what the Lakers have planned, a potential Beal acquisition could be a big boost. If the Lakers successfully acquire Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker, the purple and gold could have a deadly trio next season. And while this could finally address the lack of firepower, all the Lakers would need to find next would be bruisers or a big man down low.

Depending on how Rob Pelinka and Frank Vogel are able to juggle the team salary numbers, adding a blue-chip free agent this summer could fill in that gap.

Beal could be a steal for the Lakers although they need to give up some of their young stars. The scheme of developing players has hardly been effective for the Lakers and LA may need to shy away from that approach if they want to revert to their old ways.