Rumors: Reaction to the Bucks being named a Bradley Beal trade suitor

The 2022-23 NBA season has officially concluded, and it appears the Milwaukee Bucks have some big plans this off-season.

According to The Athletic insider Shams Charania, the Bucks are expected to be a trade suitor for Bradley Beal. For some important added context, Charania reported that the Washington Wizards and Beal are expected to work on a trade if the newly implemented front office decides to enter a rebuild this off-season. This is certainly some captivating news from Charania.

Rumors: Reaction to the Bucks being named a Bradley Beal trade suitor

First and foremost, it’s not too surprising that the Bucks are linked to a big name who could hit the market possibly. When Kevin Durant was on the market last off-season, the team reportedly gave the Brooklyn Nets a call, even if the odds of getting him were extremely slim. The front office may very well take the same approach here just to kick the tires.

Yet, one angle that suggests the Bucks have a legitimate interest in going after the guard should he become available is something that took place in 2020. Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Kevin Arnovitz (Subscription required), Giannis Antetokounmpo named Bradley Beal a “desirable” trade target for the team in 2020 before they pulled off the Jrue Holiday blockbuster deal.

With hopes of keeping Antetokounmpo happy and perhaps getting him to ink his signature on an extension later this year, the team could potentially reignite their interest.

The appeal with Beal is clear to see. He’s a three-time All-Star guard who is among the most lethal scorers in the game day. Over the past few years, a lack of reliable scorers has doomed the Bucks late in the season. Adding Beal could certainly help eradicate that issue and give the team another strong scorer to alleviate constant pressure off of Antetokounmpo.

While Beal is certainly desirable, trading for him would be far easier said than done. Not only will the Wizards likely want some solid draft assets, which the Bucks don’t have too many of, in a deal for Beal, but his $46.7 million salary for next season would also require quite a few contracts. The guard just finished up the first year of a five-year deal worth $251 million, so the team would also have to be willing to take on the rest of that monstrous salary.

To start, the Bucks would almost certainly have to include Jrue Holiday in this deal to even get the wheels turning financially. Some Bucks fans will be more fine with that than others, especially as the Bucks would have to add plenty of more pieces into this deal. Yet, Beal is 29 and would be a piece the team has under contract financially who could help this group contend for several years.

It will be fascinating to see how this story develops.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and trade talk.