NBA Trade Rumors: Is Toronto A Destination For Bradley Beal?

With a month to go before the Feb. 7 NBA trade deadline, rumors are picking up steam about where some of the league’s most valuable trade assets might end up. Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal has been the subject of such rumors for some time, and the newest one has him potentially heading north to an Eastern Conference contender.

A report by The Sporting News over the weekend referenced “chatter” around the league that the Toronto Raptors could be interested in Beal, though the asking price might be too high. The Raptors, who sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, faltered a bit after star point guard Kyle Lowry went down with a back injury in November.

That led to questions about the team’s playmakers outside of offseason acquisition Kawhi Leonard when Lowry is off the court.

Ever since dysfunction emerged within the Wizards locker room early in the year, there have been rumblings about the team trading either John Wall or Beal. Recent reports indicated the Wizards would not let go of Beal without getting something significant in return, though. Washington reportedly wants at least two first-round picks and perhaps even multiple players for the productive guard.

The problem, as The Sporting News pointed out, is that the Raptors are short on assets to give up without mortgaging their future. Veterans like Serge Ibaka and C.J. Miles carry heavy price tags as trade assets, and giving up young stars like O.G. Anunoby does not bode well for the team’s future.

The Raptors could opt to win now in the event that Leonard leaves in free agency after the season, or hold on to those younger players so they still have a chance to contend regardless of his decision.

Leonard has frequently been linked to either of the teams in Los Angeles. Not even Lowry knows what he will do after the season, according to recent comments.

The Wizards are well below .500, but Beal has played well for the team. He has averaged 23.9 points per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc. He had previously been suggested as a possible trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers.