Heat interests Beal, but he’s not looking to force way here or anywhere specifically

The Washington Wizards and the representation for Bradley Beal have a general understanding of several of the teams that Beal would be willing to accept in a trade, and the Heat, as expected, is among those teams, according to a source with direct knowledge.

The interest appears mutual: The Heat has expressed interest in Beal, according to the source, though it’s unclear what Miami would be willing to trade for him.

While Beal would welcome a trade to the Heat if the Wizards decide to deal him, he is not trying to push his way to Miami or any specific team, the source said.

Beal, who has not asked for a trade, is open to landing with more than a handful of teams; the franchise’s ability to compete for a championship ranks highly among the important criteria for him.

Beal is the NBA’s only player with a full no-trade clause.

The Wizards are in the process of deciding whether to retool their roster and trade Beal, according to multiple reports. One person close to the process said a trade seems the more likely outcome, but emphasized that a final decision has not been made and Washington could opt to keep him.

Clarity might come before next Thursday’s NBA Draft.

New Wizards top basketball executive Michael Winger has been given the authority by ownership to execute a rebuild if he chooses.

Winger and Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, have been in contact to discuss trade options that emerge, and what Beal would be willing to accept.

It’s unclear what Miami would be willing to deal for Beal, who is due $46.7 million, $50.2 million, $53.7 million and $57.1 million through the next four years.

Several hypothetical Heat trades would satisfy cap rules for Beal, including one deal involving Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and perhaps a draft pick; and another involving Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo (once he opts into his contract, as expected, by a June 29 deadline), Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith and a draft pick or two.

Beal, 29, averaged 23.2 points and 33.5 minutes per game last season, while shooting a career-high 50.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent on three-pointers. He was limited to 50 games because of several injuries.

Herro, 23, averaged 20.1 points in 34.9 minutes, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 37.8 percent on threes. He missed most of the Heat’s postseason run because of a hand injury.

Beal — who has spent his entire 11 year career with Washington — is due $207 million through the next four seasons, compared with $130 million for Herro. Beal’s contract also includes a 15 percent trade bonus.

So a decision to move forward with Beal instead of Herro could cost the Heat an additional $200 million, mostly in 2025 and 2026, factoring in his salary and luxury tax consequences.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has said that because of Beal’s contract, he will command less in a trade than a player of his value would typically net.

Beal has long expressed admiration for the Heat. The Bucks and Knicks are among other teams with interest in Beal, according to The Athletic.

Any team acquiring Beal also would inherit his no-trade clause.

For his career, Beal has averaged 22.1 points — including back-to-back seasons of 30.5 points and 31.3 points in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He’s a three-time All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021) and was third-team All-NBA in 2021.

If the Heat includes Herro in a deal for Beal, that would eliminate Miami’s best trade asset to try to acquire an All-Star-caliber point guard or power forward.

The Heat and other teams do not have clarity about whether Damian Lillard will ask for a trade from Portland; Lillard has said the Heat would interest him if he does.

As for Herro, he’s primed for another offseason of trade rumors.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, on Wednesday, credited Herro for making a “dramatic jump,” adding that “Tyler was really able to show that he can move into the starting role, impact games, particularly in those fourth quarter moments of truth.

“He’s a gifted offensive player that can do it all three levels, but also really improved his playmaking. But what really separates Tyler is his fourth-quarter clutch performances and ability to raise his game in those moments of truth.”

Herro became the first player in modern NBA history to hit as many as 42 fourth-quarter free throws without a miss this season. He shot 46.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent on threes in the clutch — defined by the NBA as the final five minutes of games with a margin of five points or fewer.

It’s possible that a deal for Beal could be expanded to include other players. The Heat likely would not be able to acquire Kyle Kuzma because he’s reportedly set to opt out of a contract that would pay him $13 million next season, and a team acquiring a free agent in a sign-and-trade would be hard capped at $169 million next season.

The Heat already has $176 million in payroll commitments without factoring impending free agents Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Omer Yurtseven, Kevin Love and Cody Zeller.

It’s possible, though purely speculative, that power forward Kristaps Porzingis could be involved in trade talks if he exercises a $36 million player option for next season. One report said Porzingis plans to opt in, but he hasn’t made that official. It’s unclear if the Heat would have interest in him.

Any team that’s well over the luxury tax line cannot take back more than 110 percent of the salaries being sent out. Beal and Porzingis are set to make a combined $82.7 million next season.

Porzingis, 7-3, averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in 65 games last season but has a history of injuries and has appeared in more than 57 games just once in the past six seasons.