Early offseason moves clear the path for Bradley Beal to be an All-Star next season

Although many Wizards fans may be disappointed in the news that Paul George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder - instead of to the Wizards - there is a silver lining in the transaction for the Wizards fan. With this trade, along with the trade of Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Eastern Conference has now lost two All Star players. The moves open the door for Bradley Beal to make his first All-Star game this season.

Beal was very close to becoming an All-Star this past season. He was reportedly considered as an injury replacement for Kevin Love, but was ultimately passed over by Carmelo Anthony because he received more votes from coaches in the reserve vote. This did not make Beal very happy.

“I’ll never say a player doesn’t deserve to be on the All-Star team. For one, Carmelo is a great player. Hell, he’s been one of the best offensive threats in the league for years now, and I’m taking absolutely nothing away from him. But the process of it does not make sense. If they reward winning, then I don’t understand how the decision was made. It was kind of weird to me.”

Beal finished the season averaging career highs in points per game (23.1), field goal percentage (48.2), and three point field goals made (223). He was eighth-highest scoring average in the Eastern Conference, with both Butler and George ahead of him.

Needless to say, with a weakened Eastern Conference, if he is able to replicate those numbers, stay healthy, and keep the Wizards near the top of the conference, then it’s hard to imagine him not being an All-Star and representing the Wizards in Los Angeles next summer.