Bradley Beal committed to Wizards but with respect for Heat, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

Even with the trade rumors shot down, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal has made it clear that when it comes to the Miami Heat there is an abiding respect, particularly for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

Linked to the Heat in speculation even after he signed a two-year, $72 million extension in Oct. 2019 that kicks in starting next season, Beal spoke during the Washington Wizards’ three-day stay in South Florida about attention paid to the Heat.

That had him arriving with a mindset of avoiding Adebayo as the defender when creating switches in the Wizards’ pick-and-roll game.

“The have big, mobile guys like Bam,” Beal said. “Bam can guard one through five.

“So my biggest thing was just making sure to try to keep Bam out of as many pick and rolls as possible.”

Then there is Butler, a respected rival, with the two laughing as they battled for possession of a tied-up ball early during the Wizards’ Wednesday night victory in the first game of the team’s two-game set this week.

“Jimmy is an unbelievable player,” Beal said, with the teams also meeting Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. “He’s a star in our league, a true leader.

“It’s always competitive when we play. He always just wants to win, whatever it looks like.”

With Butler often looking right at Beal, even with the Heat utilizing traps and swarming defenses against the NBA’s scoring leader.

“He always takes the hardest, tough defensive challenge,” Beal said. “And it’s always competitive. I have nothing but respect for Jimmy.”

Because of the trade speculation, there has been a smattering of cheers for Beal this week, even as he arrived as the opposition.

The former University of Florida standout is in the midst of a contract that does not have an out clause until his $37 million player option for 2022-23. He currently finds himself at the top of the NBA scoring race and at the bottom of the standings.

“It’s tough. I’m not going to sit here and be naive. It’s tough,” he said last week, “We want to win, and I want to win. This is why I stayed; I want to win.”

In fact, Beal, 27, noted what some had perceived as poor body language.

“I’ve got to be better with that,” he said. “I mean, the media’s going to blow it up — I’m mad about losing. If I’m sitting over there laughing and smiling, what is the media going to say then? Like, ‘Oh, he doesn’t take it seriously?’

“I just hate losing. I hate losing. And I’m going to continue to show pissed-off faces. I try to control them as much as I can, but I don’t like losing.”

Coach Scott Brooks said the professionalism has been resolute.

“He’s a serious athlete,” Brooks said. “That’s what I love about him. He’s a serious guy. He competes. He wants to win. He’s a winner. We’re not winning as a team, but Brad is a winning basketball player.

“Like Brad has said, we’re frustrated. We’re not giving up. We’re not going to give up. We’re definitely not giving up. We’re going to keep fighting, and we’re going to turn it around. And when we do turn it around, it’s going to be a great feeling.”

All as the March 25 NBA trading deadline looms.

Former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, now an ESPN analyst, said he can relate.

“I was in the same circumstance in my ninth year,” Pierce said, with Beal also in his ninth season, after being drafted at No. 3 overall out of Florida in 2012. “Beal wants to be recognized as one of the game’s best players and you don’t get that same recognition when you’re on a losing team. I really, clearly understand his frustration but I think they have to play out the year, and after the year, reevaluate things because that’s the same thing that happened to me.”

To Pierce, it should be a summer story.

“If they can’t do anything by the summer,” he said, “I’d suggest trying to trade him and get younger assets and give Beal at least the opportunity to get recognized as one of the game’s best players on a contender.”