Who Won The Bradley Beal Trade?

Trade Analysis For Former Wizard Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal is no longer a Washington Wizard. Yes, the time has come as this looks to be a full rebuild in Washington. After being drafted by the Wizards in 2012 and spending ten long seasons with this team, Bradley Beal’s days in the District has come to an end. It has been a long week of trades for this team, and now that the NBA Draft is over and completed, the Bradley Beal trade has finally been completed. Here are the details below. 

Phoenix Suns Receive: Bradley Beal, Isaiah Todd, Jordan Goodwin

Washington Wizards Receive: Chris Paul, Landry Shamet

The trade gets juicy and interesting with the draft picks that are involved below:

Washington and Phoenix have finalized the Bradley Beal trade, landing the Wizards six second-round draft picks and four first-round pick swaps, sources tell ESPN. Suns are sending seconds in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030. Pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

So the ultimate question is who won this trade? 

Why was this trade even done? 

The fact of the matter is it is never easy trading an all star player who still has a few prime years left. The contract of Bradley Beal’s played a huge factor here. You have to look at not just the fact that he had a no trade clause, but the dollar figure amount of his super max deal which is close to $50 Million dollars for the next four seasons. With Beal's injury history, for that amount to hit your salary cap every year hurts the team tremendously. Washington had to make this deal, especially with Brad’s no trade clause. The Suns were the team he chose and they had no choice but to accept that offer.

Now, getting Chris Paul wasn’t the best idea. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise and worked out since they were able to flip him for Golden State Warriors G Jordan Poole. He will be the premier guard of the future for the Washington Wizards. Poole will be a top ten scorer in the league next season as he can flat out score the basketball easily every single night. Additionally in this trade, it would have been nice if the Wizards were able to at least get one first round pick from the Suns. Now they did acquire six total second round picks and having the ability to swap first round picks may work out for them as well. In the end, the Suns won the trade. They acquired the best player in this deal for Chris Paul who they were shopping anyway as well as a player who they considered to be expendable in Landry Shamet.