Links: Wizards prepare for Hurricane Sandy, plus Bradley Beal for James Harden rumors surface

Sandy, the aurora is rising behind us links:

• News of the James Harden trade naturally prompted Wizards fans to consider what it would have been worth to bring the newest Rocket to D.C. instead. Well, it turns out the Wizards brass might have done the same thing and settled on including Bradley Beal in an offer to the Thunder. [Us | Grantland]
• Since we're clairvoyant here at BF, we considered this exact hypothetical last night in our Week 1 video hangout. [Us]
• The Wizards left for Cleveland early this morning in order to avoid any complications as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The team opens the regular season tomorrow against the Cavaliers. [SB Nation |Wizards Insider | Randy Wittman interview]
• And they may face a Cavs squad without Kyrie Irving, who is still day-to-day after having four wisdom teeth removed last week. [SB Nation Cleveland]
• Trevor Booker isn't sure what to do with Sandy bearing down on D.C. Meanwhile, Chris Singleton sounds wistful. [DC Sports Bog]
• The Wizards announced the release of Shelvin Mack and Brian Cook last night, trimming the roster to the requisite 15-men and making, it would appear, Jannero Pargo and Earl Barron the final two to make the cut. I would have guessed the exact opposite, but I guess that's why I'm not an NBA GM. Mike was surprised, too. [Us | Washington Post | CSN Washington | Washington Examiner | Press release]
• In his short time with the Wizards, Martell Webster has already proven himself awesome for a number of reasons. We can now add 'sleeping in his car because he doesn't want to be rude and wake someone up for a ride home' to the list. [Us | Ball Don't Lie | USA Today | Larry Brown Sports | Webster interview]
• Mike thinks it's a pretty easy decision to start Webster over Trevor Ariza at small forward. Don't think many Wizards fans would disagree. [Us]
• This blog post about NBA players with a 'missing ingredient' keeping them from become elite somehow omits John Wall and his jumpshot, but it's an interesting read, nonetheless. [The Point Forward]
• More on the 100-85 loss to the Spurs that ended the Wizards preseason. [Truth About It]
• The Wizards think they showed in the preseason that they are a different team from last season. [Washington Post]
• ProBasketballTalk.com's Kurt Helin answers some questions about the Wizards. [CSN Washington]
• How many games will the Wizards win this season? [Wiz of Awes]
• Matt Moore has Beal finishing third in the ROY vote at season's end. [CBS Sports]
• Ted has asked reporters multiple times during the offseason to find him one team that has experienced as much roster turnover as the Wizards have during his tenure as owner. In the wake of the Harden trade, Kyle Weidie is aware of at least one team. [Truth About It]
• SB Nation has released its initial NBA Power Rankings, and the Wizards finish about where you might expect given the injuries to Wall and Nene.
• Is the Harden trade a reality check to those who fell in love with the small-market Thunder? [Washington Times | SI]
• Tom Ziller doesn't get the criticism levied towards Harden for not accepting $24 million less from the Thunder than he'll get from the Rockets. He also thinks that by trading Harden, the Thunder have become the new Spurs.
• Mike wonders how the Thunder and Rockets will go about incorporating their new players. [SB Nation]
• Ben Golliver thinks everyone won in the Harden trade. [The Point Forward]
• The Wizards aren't the only team affected by Sandy, as the Knicks had to cancel practice today. [SB Nation | NY Post]
• Prince George's County native Michael Beasley is hoping to finally fulfill his potential with the Suns. [Yahoo! Sports]
• A prescription for how Brandon Jennings can become a more efficient offensive player. [Brew Hoop]
• More predictions for the 2012-13 NBA season. [SI]