Over the past decade or so, things have gotten really interesting in the NBA in terms of player movement, with superstars changing teams frequently through blockbuster trades and free agency.
Along with a lot of major deals over the last few years, like Anthony Davis joining the Los Angeles Lakers to win it all in 2020 or Kevin Durant winning two titles with the Golden State Warriors, there are a lot of what-if trades that have surfaced, like they did today, involving Bradley Beal and James Harden.
In a recent appearance on the All The Smoke Podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Beal talked about a trade involving him that almost happened during the 2012 NBA Draft, which involved superstar guard James Harden via NBA on ESPN.
Bradley Beal was almost traded for James Harden pic.twitter.com/RfB8NrgT0Y
NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 14, 2023
Even though no titles have been won by either player up to this point in their careers, this trade would ve changed some things, especially for theWashington Wizards.
If the Wizards were getting eventual NBA MVP Harden, Washington might ve been able to make some noise while possibly creating a dynamic duo of Harden and John Wall.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, might ve made it work with Durant, Beal, and Russell Westbrook, as they may have been able to find the missing piece to the championship puzzle before it all fell apart.
Interestingly enough, Beal and Harden could both be on the move this NBA offseason, with Beal seemingly about to get traded by the Wizards while Harden is potentially considering leaving the Philadelphia 76ers for the Houston Rockets or elsewhere.
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