What could the Indiana Pacers offer for Bradley Beal?

Could the Indiana Pacers be in the mix for Bradley Beal if he demands a trade?

There were a lot of preseason projections that had the Wizards ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the standings. I will admit to being one of them, with the very important caveat that I said it would take a lot going right for Washington and a lot going wrong for Indiana.

But through a quarter of the season, nothing has gone right for the Wizards. COVID-19 has hit them harder than any other team in the league, causing them to postpone a league-leading six games so far. Add to that a season ending ACL tear to their starting center Thomas Bryant, Russell Westbrook missing a third of their games with knee soreness, and three rotation players still out with COVID-19, it starts to make sense why they’re 4-12.

Even though the Wizards have a terrible record, 27-year-old Bradley Beal is playing at an All-Star level for the second year in a row. Last season Beal became the first players to ever average 30 points and six assists per game and not make the All-Star or All-NBA team, and he was not happy about it.

So far this season Beal leads the league in scoring at 34.7 points per game, while averaging five rebounds, five assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He’s also shooting on 48% from the field, 34% from three (which is a career worst and sure to improve), and 88% from the free throw line.

Just this season alone Beal has scored 61, 47, and 41 points, but each of those games was a loss due to the frustrating lack of a supporting cast. He is without a doubt an offensive superstar, creating for himself and for others at a level matched by only the best players in the league. So if the Wizards don’t turn the season around and Beal makes himself available, what might the Wizards want that the Pacers could offer?