The Dallas Mavericks’ road through the Western Conference is about to get tougher.
The Phoenix Suns and the Washington Wizards are closing in on a deal to send three-time all-star guard Bradley Beal to Phoenix, one of the Mavs’ rivals for a possible future trip to the NBA Finals.
First reported by the Athletic on Sunday, the deal is expected to involve Phoenix guards Chris Paul and Landry Shamet, multiple second-round picks, and multiple other pick swaps.
Beal’s agent confirmed the reports that a deal is in the works to NBA.com.
ESPN reported on Monday that forward Isaiah Todd and guard Jordan Goodwin are also heading to Phoenix in the deal.
Phoenix and the Miami Heat were reported as the two finalists for Beal’s services.
Paul is not expected to stay with Washington and could sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, likely taking the team out of the running for Kyrie Irving and possibly clearing his path back to the Mavericks for next season.
Beal has spent his entire 11-year career with Washington since being drafted with the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and formed a dynamic backcourt duo with former No.1 overall pick John Wall. The pair spent seven seasons together but never advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Beal had been the subject of trade rumors since the completion of his second contract with Washington in 2020 but has chosen to re-sign with the team on multiple occasions, and his current five-year, $251 million deal has given teams pause and may have influenced the perceived low return from Phoenix.
Now, he will become the second all-star acquired by Phoenix in the last few months as the team added 13-time all-star and 2013-14 MVP Kevin Durant in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February.
The move was meant to push a promising young team over the hump, but the Suns were eliminated by the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals this season.
Beal gives Phoenix another potent scoring option and joins Durant and guard Devin Booker to form a trio that ranks among the best scoring groups in NBA history, each averaging over 22 points per game in their careers.
Phoenix’s lineup also features center DeAndre Ayton (16.7 points per game, 10.4 rebounds) and forward Josh Okogie. Ayton has also been the subject of trade rumors for months and may be off the team by the time the next season begins.
The Wizards finished the 2022-23 season 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 35-47 record and hold the eighth overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. Kristaps Porzingis is set to return to the team on a $36 million player option, while Kyle Kuzma has opted to test free agency.
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