Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal revealed that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s All-Star teammate was almost traded for him. Beal had a number of seasons with the Washington Wizards where the team struggled.
John Wall had already departed the squad by then, and Beal was handed the keys. However, because of his lack of support, he was unable to guide the team to any notable success.
Beal appeared as a guest on “Run Your Race,” a podcast hosted by Theo Pinson. During his appearance, the three-time All-Star mentioned that two teams were open to trading for him. The first was the Miami Heat, a team that didn’t push through with the trade discussion.
The second team was the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Beal didn’t want the trade to happen because it involved an important player from the Bucks’ championship roster.
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“They were trading Middleton,” Beal said. “They were trading Middy, but Middy had a player option. So he has to opt-in and get traded. I don’t know how many people who gon’ opt-in and get traded to DC.
“The loyalty part in that, trading someone who won y’all a championship in the previous year and was a key piece to y’all winning the championship. It didn’t really sit right with me. Granted, we’re competitors, I can fill their role very nicely, I ain’t like that.”
Ultimately, Washington waited for the perfect opportunity to trade the All-Star guard. It culminated in a deal with the Phoenix Suns in 2023 for Landry Shamet and Chris Paul, along with four first-round pick swaps and six second-round picks.
Although his first season with the Suns was a bit shaky, Beal’s addition to the team has improved their chances of winning the title.
Also read: “My real fans respect my family” – Giannis Antetokounmpo humbly defends himself after fan calls him out over denied photo request
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks to the Warriors brewing
Khris Middleton has been part of trade talks for quite some time but it has led to nowhere. However, a trade rumor involving Giannis Antetokounmpoto and the Golden State Warriors might be worth monitoring.
NBA insider Sam Amick shared that the talks involving the Greek Freak aren’t something to be ignored.
“One that I think is just always gonna be monitored around the NBA is if the wheels fall off the Bucks,” Amick said. “We know that Joe Lacob has had dreams of Giannis coming the Warriors’ way for a very long time. Again, unlikely, but Khris Middleton is gonna be a free agent next summer… I think Giannis is worth monitoring.”
Having Giannis team up with Steph Curry would cause major problems for other teams, especially in the Western Conference.
Also read: Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight against Detroit Pistons? Exploring 2x MVP’s status for Bucks’ preseason opener (Oct. 6)
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Edited by Steven Kubitza
