New Orleans Pelicans: Why Bradley Beal should be #1 offseason target
New Orleans Pelicans: Bradley Beal’s contract fits with Zion Williamson’s
One thing the Pelicans will have to consider with any big trade is how that player’s contract will align with Zion Williamson’s future extension.
I wrote earlier in the season that Zion Williamson is THE reason to go after Beal. Not only would this show the youngster that the Pels are committed to winning, but Beal’s contract lines up perfectly with Zion’s.
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Beal only has two more seasons left on his deal after this one, same as Zion, so his big contract would not affect the Pels’ ability to give Zion a huge raise.
Beal will also be 30-years-old, so the Pels could potentially just let him walk at the end of his deal after getting the last remaining years of his prime or re-sign him to a lesser deal if he wants to stay with a team that has a generational superstar on it.
By then, the Pels could very well be contenders for the title, so Beal may want to stay and try to rack up some rings with Zion and Ingram.
I am a big believer that the Pels should try to go for it during Zion’s rookie deal, as there is no guarantee that he will stay or that he will stay healthy over the long term.
Windows close quickly in the NBA, just ask the Thunder, who once had three future MVP’s on their roster but now look like a perennial G-League team.