Wizards were wise to avoid lure of Bradley Beal

After years in Eastern Conference purgatory, the Washington Wizards finally look like a franchise heading in the right direction. Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Jordan Poole have formed a young and exciting core. 

The recent additions of Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton have ensured there's some legitimate veteran leadership in the locker room. However, according to a recent report from Marc Stein, the Warriors almost traded for Bradley Beal at the Feb. 6 trade deadline. 

Had that deal gone through, the St. Louis native would have returned to the franchise he had previously spent 11 years with.  

“It turns out that the Washington Wizards, stunning as it sounds, gave real consideration to bringing Beal to the nation's capital," Stein reported. "The Wizards, of course, are the team that gave Beal that monster five-year, $251 million contract adorned with a full no-trade clause in the first place. While there continues to be no indication that Beal would have blessed such a trade to go through, league sources say Washington gave the concept legitimate contemplation.”

Beal left the Wizards to compete for championships. His tenure with the franchise had failed to yield any legitimate pushes for silverware. So, as the Wizards pivoted toward a youth movement, Beal headed out West. While that foray hasn't gone to plan, it would have been a mistake to head back to Washington.

Beal wouldn't come cheap. The Wizards would have to part with some young talent and future draft assets. For a team that is starting to find growth, blowing things up for a player who has struggled with health in recent years would have been malpractice. Yes, Beal is an All-NBA talent when at his best, but the truth is, he hasn't been at his best for a couple of years. 

The Suns will likely tear down the current roster in the summer. Washington should be nowhere near any trades the Suns make. Instead, the franchise should focus on developing the young talent at its disposal, drafting well and making the most of the low expectations around the city. 

If the Wizards can be patient, their chance to succeed will come. If the Suns have taught us one thing, it's that racing to become a champion often leads to falling flat on your face. Washington must learn from that rather than lean into it.