Player the OKC Thunder should monitor No. 3) Bradley Beal
Despite clearly being the best player found on this list and, frankly, one of the best players in the NBA today, we are not advocating for the OKC Thunder to pursue Bradley Beal — at least, not today.
Instead, we’re looking to have them serve as a third or fourth team in any deal involving the star shooting guard and, with Wednesday’s Harden deal, such a move with a championship contender could on the horizon.
A 27-year-old All-NBA candidate and a multiple-time All-Star, Beal is finding himself wallowing away on the lowly 2-8 Washington Wizards in 2019-20. Posting insane averages of 34.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, five assists, 1.4 steals, and just under a block per game on 49 percent shooting from deep and 38 percent shooting from deep the odds are any deal made for the wing will be big and, in turn, will require multiple teams getting involved.
Recently, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report listed the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Orleans Pelicans as potential landing spots but, with a guy like Beal, there will be several other teams such as the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors who could find themselves jumping into the mix.
What’s in common with all of these teams is the fact that they can provide the Thunder with some suitable assets while also being able to utilize the likes of George Hill, Al Horford, and Trevor Ariza, all of whom are viewed as flippable players as-is.
No matter what team winds up landing Bradley Beal, we strongly suggest that the Thunder are involved in the deal.