Bradley Beal - Part III

[DCZards]

I kinda wish BB would stop talking about how loyal he is to the Zards, at least publicly. I’m on record saying it would be a mistake to trade Beal (for anything short of a top 15 player or possibly the #1 pick in the draft) so I’m happy to hear this from him. But proclaiming this kind of loyalty hurts BB’s negotiating position with the Zards and could come back to bite him in the butt if he grows frustrated and eventually demands a trade.

Ted and Beal met just before the all-star break and I have a gut feeling that Panda urged Leonis to dump EG so that he, the team and the franchise can get a fresh start...and put free agents and their reps on notice that the Grunfield regime is over.

[payitforward]

I sure hope you are right, Zards....

[Ruzious]

If Beal leaves in 2 years, he can point to the Wiz loyalty in trading Otto a week or so after assuring him that they wouldn't trade him. Ultimately, Brand Beal is due the biggest loyalty from Bradley.

[Freakyman]

Bradley Beal mix.

Watch on YouTube

[tontoz]

If Beal decides to leave as a UFA he doesn't need to give anyone an explanation. I think most people would be very surprised if he
resigned.

[nate33]

Here's a really interesting article at NBCSports about Bradley Beal's conditioning and also about his relationship with Drew Hanlen. I didn't realize that Drew Hanlen was just a slightly older basketball player when he first met Beal and it was his mentorship of Beal that ultimately led Hanlen to pursue a career as a player development coach.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/how-bradley-beal-became-possibly-best-conditioned-athlete-nba

Apparently, Beal has been putting in the work on conditioning and endurance. His ability to handle a heavy minute load is not an accident, and it's not due to him resting on defense.

With all the minutes he has played, Beal manages to run more miles per game than any other player (2.82 mi./g), and covers more ground than anyone on defense (1.33 mi./g). Yet, he is third in the NBA in loose balls recovered and 12th in charges drawn.

Last year, when Beal played all 82 games and finished fourth in minutes, the heavy load was blamed for his shooting struggles late in games. His legs were tired, many presumed, and Beal admitted as much.

Last season, Beal shot just 30.6 percent from the field and 20.5 percent from three in clutch scenarios, defined by NBA.com as in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the game is within five points.

One year later, the script has been flipped. Beal is shooting 48.3 percent overall in the clutch and 45.8 percent from long range. Both of those numbers are better than his season averages, meaning he is getting better late in games when the Wizards need him most and when he should theoretically be most tired.

And the part about Hanlen:

Beal and Drew Hanlen first crossed paths growing up in St. Louis, Mo. Beal was 13 and in middle school. Hanlen was a 17-year-old high school junior, a basketball standout from the area who would later go on to star at Belmont University.

Hanlen had played against Beal's older brothers over the years and now Beal was rising the St. Louis ranks. After they first faced off in a scrimmage together, Beal's father approached Hanlen, having observed his game over the years. He could tell the guy was different, that he had an attention to detail and a special knack for the skills of the game.

He wanted Hanlen to practice with his son. Later, when Hanlen went off to college, their relationship developed more into player-coach. He designed drills for Beal and eventually turned it into a business called Pure Sweat that can now claim NBA clients like Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Kelly Oubre Jr.

"Our careers kind of took off together," Hanlen told NBC Sports Washington.

[DCZards]

Yes, the part about Beal essentially being the impetus for Hanlen's career/business is interesting and news to me as well.

[payitforward]

Great find, nate -- & really cool too.

Bradley Beal seems like an admirable young man.

Has there ever been a player/GM?

[Ruzious]

Since the all-star break... holy spit per game #s: 30.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.9./2.8 assists/to, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, shooting 49.4%, and this is with his 3 point% at only 32.3, so if he ups that to his lifetime % of 38.5... geebus. Gotta rethink his trade value.

[prime1time]

Since the all-star break... holy spit per game #s: 30.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.9./2.8 assists/to, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, shooting 49.4%, and this is with his 3 point% at only 32.3, so if he ups that to his lifetime % of 38.5... geebus. Gotta rethink his trade value.

I think going into the offseason, Beal needs to work on his off the dribble and step back three point shot. He gets more comfortable at those, and then he can both take more 3's and be more efficient with the threes he's taking. I want to see him taking about 10 3's a game.

[nate33]

Since the all-star break... holy spit per game #s: 30.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.9./2.8 assists/to, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, shooting 49.4%, and this is with his 3 point% at only 32.3, so if he ups that to his lifetime % of 38.5... geebus. Gotta rethink his trade value.

Also 7.0 FTA's per game, shooting 87.5%.

His numbers over the last 31 games, since Wall went down, have been darn near as good:
28.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.2 to's, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks .476 FG%, .351 3P%, .590 TS%

[Wizardspride]

Since the all-star break... holy spit per game #s: 30.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.9./2.8 assists/to, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, shooting 49.4%, and this is with his 3 point% at only 32.3, so if he ups that to his lifetime % of 38.5... geebus. Gotta rethink his trade value.

Also 7.0 FTA's per game, shooting 87.5%.

His numbers over the last 31 games, since Wall went down, have been darn near as good:
28.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.2 to's, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks .476 FG%, .351 3P%, .590 TS%

Great numbers.....now let's trade him!

[nate33]

Since the all-star break... holy spit per game #s: 30.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.9./2.8 assists/to, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, shooting 49.4%, and this is with his 3 point% at only 32.3, so if he ups that to his lifetime % of 38.5... geebus. Gotta rethink his trade value.

Also 7.0 FTA's per game, shooting 87.5%.

His numbers over the last 31 games, since Wall went down, have been darn near as good:
28.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.2 to's, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks .476 FG%, .351 3P%, .590 TS%

Great numbers.....now let's trade him!

I think he has become so good that he now falls under the "you never get fair value when you trade a superstar" category.

And with the new lottery odds, there are diminishing returns for tanking. The worst team in the league has a 52% chance at a top 4 pick. The 7th worst team in the league has a 32% chance at a top 4 pick. Do you want to give up 25-year-old Bradley Beal, playing like a top 10-15 player, just to boost our lottery odds from 32% to 52%?

[Wizardspride]

Also 7.0 FTA's per game, shooting 87.5%.

His numbers over the last 31 games, since Wall went down, have been darn near as good:
28.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.2 to's, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks .476 FG%, .351 3P%, .590 TS%

Great numbers.....now let's trade him!

I think he has become so good that he now falls under the "you never get fair value when you trade a superstar" category.

And with the new lottery odds, there are diminishing returns for tanking. The worst team in the league has a 52% chance at a top 4 pick. The 7th worst team in the league has a 32% chance at a top 4 pick. Do you want to give up 25-year-old Bradley Beal, playing like a top 10-15 player, just to boost our lottery odds from 32% to 52%?

Actually, I want to wait until after the draft lottery and then map out my plan.

Basically, I want that number one overall pick.

[prime1time]

I'm not giving up Beal. He's still getting better. He's clearly surpassed Wall. Wall was holding him back.

[DCZards]

I'm not giving up Beal. He's still getting better. He's clearly surpassed Wall. Wall was holding him back.

Must we blame Wall for everything? Beal is putting up big #s because he HAS to given the dearth of talent on this team.

I’m sure BB would prefer to be sharing the court with Wall, because the team would be winning more games and Beal would not have to be playing more minutes than anybody in the NBA.

[prime1time]

I'm not giving up Beal. He's still getting better. He's clearly surpassed Wall. Wall was holding him back.

Must we blame Wall for everything? Beal is putting up big #s because he HAS to given the dearth of talent on this team.

I’m sure BB would prefer to be sharing the court with Wall, because the team would be winning more games and Beal would not have to be playing more minutes than anybody in the NBA.

Nope, Wall gets blame. Beal improved his playmaking, Wall's shooting was still lackluster. It's why I'm no weary of ball dominant guards that can't shoot. Limit your offense. Look at Beal's assist numbers! Just spectacular.

[payitforward]

I'm not giving up Beal. He's still getting better. He's clearly surpassed Wall. Wall was holding him back.

Must we blame Wall for everything? Beal is putting up big #s because he HAS to given the dearth of talent on this team.

I’m sure BB would prefer to be sharing the court with Wall, because the team would be winning more games and Beal would not have to be playing more minutes than anybody in the NBA.

Nope, Wall gets blame. Beal improved his playmaking, Wall's shooting was still lackluster. It's why I'm no weary of ball dominant guards that can't shoot. Limit your offense. Look at Beal's assist numbers! Just spectacular.

On this whole season, Beal's overall numbers are his best yet -- clearly better than his previous best 2 years ago.

Since Wall went down, they are really stellar as has been pointed out.

But what has this to do with John Wall? In that previous best season, Wall also had his best year -- & he also took more shots than in any other season.

But, I wouldn't say Beal is putting up these big numbers because he HAS to, as Zards wrote -- I'd say he's putting up these numbers, because he CAN.

[nate33]

James Harden at age 25:
27.4 points. 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks, 4.0 turnovers, .605 TS%, 36.8 min

Bradley Beal since December 28th, the first game after Wall got hurt:
28.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3.2 turnovers, .587 TS%, 38.7 min

Beal plays a few more minutes than Harden, so here are his numbers per 36.8 minutes to provide an apples-to-apples comparison:
26.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3.0 turnovers, .587 TS%, 36.8 min

[Ruzious]

James Harden at age 25:
27.4 points. 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks, 4.0 turnovers, .605 TS%, 36.8 min

Bradley Beal since December 28th, the first game after Wall got hurt:
28.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3.2 turnovers, .587 TS%, 38.7 min

Beal plays a few more minutes, so here are his numbers per 36.8 minutes:
26.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3.0 turnovers, .587 TS%, 36.8 min

Wow, gotta admit I did not see this coming - as it was happening under my nose. Happy to say I under-estimated him.