NY Knicks: Three RJ Barrett Trades To Land A Star

NY Knicks trade RJ Barrett and other pieces for Bradley Beal

Beal has been at the center of most trade speculation this season, and if made available would easily be the most valuable player on the market.

Washington has been poor this season, currently 14-20 (12th), although they have been better of late, going 7-3 in their last 10.

The Wizards are also in a tough salary cap situation without any real flexibility given they are due to pay Russell Westbrook $132.5m over three years.

Beal has on numerous occasions come out and stated his desire to remain in the Capital, and the Wizards have very little if any incentive to trade him as they fight to remain relevant in the East. Beal can become a free agent in the 2022 summer, which is interesting to note.

So what does a Beal trade look like if he were to request a move?

Knicks:

• A deal to acquire Beal is going to cost the entire farm. I’m talking RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson, and all of the draft picks. Even then it might not be enough.
• That would be an awful lot to give up for a player who can enter free agency at the end of next season, however, this kind of talent just doesn’t grow on trees and the opportunity to add the leagues leading scorer may be too enticing. Furthermore, Beal is still just 27 years of age and has plenty of years left ahead of him.

Wizards:

• A fresh start and an absolute king’s ransom from the Knicks. This trade would net them a bunch of young assets and a haul of draft picks to kick start their rebuild in the proper fashion.
• Additionally, as mentioned, Beal can become a free agent at the end of next season. Do the Wizards risk losing him for nothing in free agency? if they believe he isn’t going to re-sign with them long term, do they cut ties with him now while his trade value is at its absolute peak?

Trading for Beal is an idea we at Daily Knicks have explored before, however, to make this trade New York would need to completely gut the roster of its young talent and trade away its future with its draft selections. Would the team be any more competitive today if Beal was added to a gutted Knicks roster? marginally perhaps, but not enough to make it worthwhile. This deal has very similar vibes to the Carmelo Anthony – Denver trade…

For those very reasons, the Knicks should pass on Beal in a trade and try their luck for him in free agency at the end of the 2021/2022 season.