Contemplating the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been round for practically twenty years, sufficient time has handed to construct an enriched custom within the league’s historical past books.
In one of the notable trades in league historical past, the Thunder despatched James Harden to Houston Rockets in 2012 after failing to safe an extension. Contemporary off an NBA Finals run, OKC took a bet that did not repay. Harden turned among the finest gamers within the league in Houston and gained the celebrated MVP award in 2018.
The small print of the deal have been properly documented for greater than a decade. Alternate realities have been proposed, together with the Thunder doubtlessly buying Klay Thompson or Bradley Beal for Harden. These offers failed for numerous causes.
In a latest episode of the “Run Your Race” podcast with Theo Pinson, Beal recounted how he was nearly traded to OKC in the course of the 2012 NBA draft. The multi-All-Star would have been the right third scorer behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on their journey to a championship.
“That evening my agent instructed me, he stated, ‘I am fairly certain we’ll go (No.) 3 in Washington.’ He stated, seven minutes earlier than the draft began, always remember Seven minutes, he stated ‘Brad, prepare, you is likely to be going to OKC,'” Beal stated. “In my head I am like, ‘What? I did not work for them.’ … My agent tells me, ‘Brad, I am getting these calls, they’re telling me you may go to (No.) 2 in OKC.’ … So the deal was going to be to commerce James (Harden) to DC, draft me to OKC, now I am like, ‘That will have been loopy However that is not occurring.’
It appeared just like the deal was near going by way of. For some cause the set off was by no means pulled. Sadly, Beal had an unimaginable profession with the Wizards of Washington. He was a three-time All-Star and led a number of groups to the playoffs with John Wall.
There have been many what-if situations in the course of the Thunder’s quick historical past. This one is up there when it comes to enchantment. It is easy to think about Beal receiving a number of open appears from deep, as opposing defenses concentrate on Durant and Westbrook.
What did not occur in OKC occurred in Arizona. Beal is ready to start his second season with the Phoenix Suns. He, Durant and Devin Booker hope to bounce again from final 12 months’s disappointing first-round elimination.
This text was initially revealed on OKC Thunder Wire: Bradley Beal talks about when he was nearly traded for James Harden
