Kofi Inkoom
Recent reports indicate that the Miami Heat had their eyes on Bradley Beal, former guard of the Washington Wizards, before he became part of a three-team trade that sent him to the Phoenix Suns.
However, the presence of his no-trade clause led to the Miami Heat losing interest in pursuing the experienced guard.
In June, the Washington Wizards executed a trade involving guard Bradley Beal, sending him to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal that also included the Indiana Pacers.
There were previous rumors suggesting that the Miami Heat were leading contenders to acquire Beal’s services before he ultimately joined the Phoenix Suns.
“Even though the Heat holds Bradley Beal in high regard, we hear one major reason the Heat didn’t pursue a Beal trade earlier this offseason was because it philosophically doesn’t like the idea of inheriting a no-trade clause,” Barry Jackson wrote. “Beal’s no-trade clause came with him to Phoenix.”
Bradley Beal, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, had a brief college basketball stint at the University of Florida before entering the NBA. He posted averages of 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in 37 appearances for the Gators during the 2011-12 season.
As a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Beal has spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the Washington Wizards. In the 2022-23 regular season, he recorded impressive stats, averaging 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting at 50.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from beyond the three-point line.
However, despite Beal’s individual success, the Wizards had a lackluster season, finishing with a subpar 35-47 record. Their home record was 19-22, and they struggled on the road with a 16-25 record.
During Beal’s lengthy tenure with the Wizards, the team didn’t achieve significant playoff success. They reached the second round three times but never advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The most recent second-round appearance for Beal and the Wizards was in 2017, where they were ultimately eliminated by the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series. Beal averaged 24.0 points and 3.1 assists per game in that series.
Considering Beal’s age (30) and his substantial salary, including over $46 million per season for the next three years, it’s understandable why the Miami Heat were reportedly hesitant to accept his no-trade clause.