After back-to-back 35-47 seasons under head coach Wes Unseld Jr., the Washington Wizards could be on the verge of moving star shooting guard Bradley Beal too.
Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket, Bill Simmons of The Ringer said that the Philadelphia 76ers should be considered the favorites to land Beal this summer. He said that Beal’s friendship with Joel Embiid, along with the possibility of losing James Harden makes Beal an ideal target for the Sixers.
“My odds on favorite is Philadelphia and I don’t even think it’s close. Beal and [Joel] Embiid, they’re friends. Embiid was trying to get him two years ago, which I kept telling people on this podcast…Harden is going to leave. If you’re Philly and you are going to lose Harden and now I have this shooter, that’s probably a better fit with Embiid anyway. And I have Tobias Harris on an expiring contract, couple future draft picks I could probably throw that I could probably find in my pocket somewhere.”
But Simmons’ take is getting a lot of pushback too. Many have pointed out that Beal is a liability on defense that the Sixers don’t need and just not a difference maker on a team that struggled to get postseason production from its biggest stars.
Bill Simmons pegs the Sixers as the favorites to land Bradley Beal in a potential trade
“My odds on favorite is Philadelphia and I don’t even think it’s close. Beal and [Joel] Embiid, they’re friends. Embiid was trying to get him two years ago, which I kept telling people on… pic.twitter.com/A3o0YDs26w
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 12, 2023
“They would be an alright duo but still not a championship unless they get better depth,” one user replied to TheNBACentral on Twitter.
“Beal a better fit than Harden? LMFAOOOO,” wrote another.
“Impossible wizards shouldn’t do any trade without getting maxey and sixers would be crazy to trade maxey for that contract ! No deal to be made,” a third wrote.
Would the 76ers be a good fit for Bradley Beal?