As rival teams begin reaching out to the Washington Wizards to explore the possibility of trading for three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal, team president Michael Winger and Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports are staying in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
After completing the first season of a five-year, $251 million contract, Beal's unique standing as the NBA's only current player to have a no-trade clause negotiated into his deal gives him the ability to control not only possible destinations, but how a potential package to acquire Beal impacts his ability to play for a contender elsewhere.
If Winger is inclined to fundamentally reshape the roster of a franchise that has missed the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, teams won't only have to talk with Winger and Wizards general manager Will Dawkins on trade ideas, they'll have to expand that to include Bartelstein in a three-way conversation.
With the NBA draft looming on June 22 and free agency commencing on July 1, conversations on Beal's future with the Wizards are expected to become more frequent, sources said.