Report: Wizards’ slump has Beal more open to trade; no real movement on deal, including for Simmons

On Feb. 11, Bradley Beal most likely will still be a member of the Washington Wizards.

However, for the first time in a long time, there seems to be an opening, and maybe some momentum, toward a Beal trade. Possibly before the Feb. 10 trade deadline, more probably in a sign-and-trade next offseason, but things are changing.

A big part of that is the Wizards’ current slump — or maybe this is just who they are.

After starting the season 10-3 and looking like the runaway winners of the Russell Westbrook trade (and they still may be), the team has gone 13-24, sliding down to 12th in the East, a game out of even the last play-in spot. The Wizards are a bottom 10 offensive and defensive team this season.

Beal has said he wants to create his own legacy in Washington, but this season has left Beal disillusioned and questioning if the Wizards can ever put the players around him he needs to win in D.C., report David Aldridge and Joshua Robins of The Athletic.

The team’s nosedive since its hot start has frustrated Beal, leaving him less sanguine about just taking the big bag next summer and staying in Washington. For the first time in a long time, sources close to Beal indicate he’s not rejecting out of hand the notion of trade elsewhere — even though his preference is to remain with the Wizards. Neither Beal nor his representatives, though, have officially asked for him to be moved with a week left before the deadline.

The Wizards put a four-year, $181 million extension offer in front of Beal, but he has not signed it while saying he is being selfish this season for the first time in his career. If he plays out this season, becomes a free agent then re-signs with Washington, he could get five years, $242 million.

If Beal is traded