The Rumor Mill Starts to Churn

We got reports on Bradley Beal, Zion Williamson, and Kristaps Porzingis as the offseason seems to have officially begun

Good morning, and Happy Offseason everyone!

We barely got 24 hours of relative quiet after the Finals ended before the rumors started to emerge in full force. As the NBA will now convert to Crazytown for the next several weeks, I’m more or less going to turn this newsletter into a daily read and react piece. I’ll still have the occasional column, as there are a few more team-specific cap breakdowns I want to do, but for the most part, I’ll be analyzing the daily roundup of news and rumors.

On that note, a friendly reminder: if you don’t know what to get Pops for Father’s Day, give the gift of KFS! For $50 a year, the old man can wake up to my daily diatribes and musings.

What could possibly say “I love you dad” more than that?

Nothing.

(or at least nothing that doesn’t come in a bottle).

🗣️ News & Notes ✍️

🏀 The biggest news of the day came via several reports that indicated an imminent parting of ways between Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards.

Will the Knicks get involved? Ian Begley reported that during the season, the Knicks “internally discussed” Beal as a possible trade target this summer, but there’s no word on where their interest stands now.

Meanwhile, John Clark of NBC Sports Philly said it is his understanding that the Sixers “probably will not be a suitor” for Beal, noting that the team is very high on Tyrese Maxey and may not be a fan of Beal’s contract in the new cap environment.

In terms of potential destinations, Shams reports that Miami is “set to emerge as a prominent potential suitor” while also naming Milwaukee as an interested party. Shams and Woj both noted that the Wizards are expected to work with Beal and his reps to find a workable trade for all parties. Given Beal’s no trade clause, it would seem that he will have ample say in his next destination.

Lastly, Windy noted that if Beal is indeed traded, many observers may “be very surprised at the price and potentially how low it's going to be because” because of the money still owed and the length of his contract.

I already did the Beal / Wiz deep dive last week, and don’t have too much more to add on the wisdom (or lack thereof) of going after Beal if you’re Leon Rose. Regardless of any of that, if Beal wants to go to Miami and the Heat would like to add him, it feels inevitable that a deal will get done. It’s tempting to suggest that Pat Riley can play hardball and try to keep Tyler Herro out of the deal, but given the new CBA, it may actually behoove Miami to include Herro in the trade rather than, say, the expiring salary of Kyle Lowry.

Even if Pat Riley decides to be a stickler, Washington really has no recourse to send Beal to a non-preferred destination. I suppose its possible that Beal prefers sunny Wisconsin to the waters of Biscayne Bay, but something tells me that’s not the case. If Beal and the Wizards can’t agree on a trade destination, the new front office could always call his bluff and simply not deal him this summer, but the wheels seem to be in motion on a move happening sooner rather than later.

Prediction: Beal will be dealt to Miami in short order, with Tyler Herro going back to the nation’s capitol, and the Knicks will not be rumored as serious suitors.

🏀 Also out of Washington, according to Keith Smith, there are murmurs that Kristaps Porzingis may opt in to his $36 million player option for next season. Smith adds that “under the old front office, the assumption was Porzingis would opt out and re-sign on a long-term deal with Wizards,” but that now he’s more likely to test the free agent waters in 2024.