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Nets: How Bradley Beal would fit in a Steve Nash offense

ByJerry Trotta|
Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards dribbles against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Capital One Arena on February 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards dribbles against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Capital One Arena on February 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)

How would Wizards star Bradley Beal fit in a Steve Nash offense?

This year has been so chaotic in all facets that it’s become nearly impossible to remember rumors that surfaced in the middle of quarantine a few months ago. The Brooklyn Nets being linked with Bradley Beal falls under that blurred memory category.

At the time (late May), it was reported via the New York Daily News that Brooklyn was having internal discussions about ways to acquire the All-Star guard from Washington. However, a lot has changed since then, as the Nets hired Steve Nash to be their next head coach.

Furthermore, the emergence of Caris LeVert in the bubble — he averaged 24 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists on 45.5% shooting — suggested to many that Brooklyn didn’t need another proven scorer.

With that being said, general manger Sean Marks has shown he isn’t afraid to make a big splash, no matter how the move might be perceived by the media. That means he could still pursue Beal this offseason, so it seems worth examining how the 27-year-old would fit in Nash’s offense.

With point guard John Wall sidelined with injury, Beal did a little bit of everything for the Wizards this season, logging 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists with .455/.353/.842 shooting splits. In doing so, he became the third player in NBA history (Steph Curry and James Harden are the others) to average 30.5 points, six assists and at least three 3-pointers per game for a season.

However, as much as Beal flourished being the go-to guy for Washington in 2019, he would likely love nothing more than to forfeit his groundbreaking stat line for the chance to make a championship run.

Luckily for Beal, chances are that Nash will implement an up-tempo offense that would, in theory, give him plenty of touches being the third star behind Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, with winning obviously being the primary focus.

After all, Nash was running point for Phoenix’s famed “seven seconds or less offense” back in 2004-05. That year, the Suns had four players — Amar’e Stoudemire (26), Shawn Marion (19.4), Joe Johnson (17.1) and Nash (15.5) — average more than 15 points per game.

We could see a similar tally from the likes of Durant, Irving and Beal, with the fourth leading scorer being up for debate, assuming that LeVert and a few other players are featured in the deal to secure the former No. 3 overall pick from Washington. Irving’s scoring may take a hit in favor of an emphasis on playmaking, and Beal could sop up a good portion of the overflowing touches.

It won’t be easy, but any trade for Beal would give the Nets arguably the most talented Big Three in the NBA. In the event that the blockbuster comes to fruition, Nash’s offense would undoubtedly be fast-paced enough to appease the appetites of the team’s star trio.