The 2023 NBA Playoffs are underway and once again basketball fans are treated to teams competing in close matches with impressive finishes. It’s often been said that nothing beats the excitement of the NBA postseason, and so far, this year has been no exception. While the playoffs have been a lot of fun so far, teams looking in from the outside inevitably feel bad about the missed opportunity while simultaneously strategizing about the future.
One sure way to lose a fan base is to go through a long post-season drought and as much fun as professional basketball is, we must always keep in mind that it is a business. If teams do not put a winning product on the floor, ticket sales and television viewership will decline which will have a negative impact on franchise value.
Bradley Bell became a star during his time with the Washington Wizards, but it may be time for the team to head in a different direction.
The Washington Wizards have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. After acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis before the trade deadline last season, fans in the District of Columbia thought the future of their basketball team was bright. However, the team performed poorly in the second half of the season, and staged another sub-par campaign this season. Considering the fact that the team sealed the deal on a $251 million-max contract with star guard Bradley Beal this past off-season, it was a huge disappointment to miss the playoffs.
The next season would be Bradley Bell’s twelfth year in the league; Only participated in the playoffs five times. He did not disappoint as an individual talent but the team was unable to find consistent success with him as a franchise player; It may be time for Washington to trade its long-distance cornerstone, who will turn 30 before the start of next season, and move in a new direction. Let’s take a closer look at potential trade scenarios for Bradley Bell that could be mutually beneficial for the star guard and the franchise as a whole.