Bradley Beal has emerged in trade rumors even though the Washington Wizards have maintained the position publicly and privately that he's not available. Beal has also reiterated he wants to remain with the Wizards.

The New York Daily News reported last week that the Brooklyn Nets have had "internal discussions" on trading for Beal.

"It's not the first time I've heard this kind of talk," Beal told ESPN. "It's interesting. To me, I look at it as a sign of respect, that I've been doing good things and guys want to play with me.

"That's an unbelievable feeling. When you hear that Kyrie [Irving] and KD [Kevin Durant] want you, s---, that's amazing. At the same time, you don't know how much there is to it, or how easy it would be to do. And I've put down roots in D.C. I've dedicated myself to this town, this community. I love it here, and it would feel great to know I could grind out winning here instead of jumping to another team.

"But I'd be naive to say that I don't think about it when these stories come up."

Beal wants to reunite with John Wall and see how the Wizards can compete.

"My biggest thing right now is that I want to play with John [Wall] again,'' Beal said. "I want to see him get back to that level where I know he can be, especially since my game has grown so much [while he's been out]. What can we accomplish together? I'm so happy he's healthy, working his tail off."

Sports betting organizations have seen a spike in bets for the Brooklyn Nets to win the NBA Finals if the season resumes this summer.

Since the season was suspended, only the Los Angeles Lakers have had more bets placed on them to win the title.

With the season delayed, there's a chance that the Nets could get both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant back from their respective injuries.

“It’s kind of a speculative bet, but nothing compares to this situation,” said Dave Mason, the sportsbook brand manager at BetOnline.ag.

When the NBA season was suspended in March, the Nets’ odds to win the championship were dismal at 150-1 on BetOnline.ag, 300-1 on DraftKings and 250-1 at the South Point in Vegas.

Brooklyn's odds to win the title have changed considerably to 75-1 (BetOnline.ag) and 60-1 (DraftKings).

Credible reporters have been consistent with their contention that Durant will not return for the 19-20 season under any circumstance. 

The Brooklyn Nets will re-open their practice facility for voluntary workouts on Tuesday, May 26th.

“The organization will strictly follow the protocols outlined by the NBA and infectious disease experts to ensure that all precautions are taken," released the team in a statement.

The news comes on the heels of New York governor Andrew Cuomo opening the state back up for sports.

"I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena -- do it! Do it!' Work out the economics, if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports. To the extent people are still staying home, it gives people something to do. It's a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible," said Cuomo. 

Mark Bartelstein, Bradley Beal's agent, said that his client with remain with the Washington Wizards amid trade rumors.

The Nets reportedly held talks over acquiring Beal.

“There are no Beal Sweepstakes and that’s why he re-signed with the Wizards,” said Mark Bartelstein.

“Brad re-signed with the Wizards because he wanted to stay in Washington and the Wizards wanted to keep him there.”

Beal signed a two-year, $72 million extension in October that will keep him with the Wizards through the 2023 season.

The Brooklyn Nets have had internal discussions about trying to trade for Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.

Beal signed a two-year, $72 million extension last offseason that made him ineligible for a trade during the 19-20 season.

The Nets have documented interest in trading for a third star.

Brooklyn's best assets are Spencer Dinwiddie ($11.5 million), Caris LeVert ($16.2 million) and Jarrett Allen ($3.9 million).

Beal averaged a career-high 30.5 points this season with 6.1 assists on 46% shooting.

Spencer Dinwiddie set up a GoFundMe page that will allow fans the opportunity to choose his next NBA team.

Dinwiddie set the target of his GoFundMe page at just over $24,632,600. Dinwiddie would then sign a one-year, minimum deal with a team of the fans' choosing should that goal be met. 

Dinwiddie, who is averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game, is under contract with the Nets through the 2020-21 season. He has a player option for the 2021-22 season. 

"I'm simply creating this GoFundMe as my commitment to my previous tweets. As of now 2625.8 BTC is roughly equivalent to $24,632,630 USD.  If we hit the target then I will allow the fan base to determine my next team decision and sign a one year contract at that destination. If we do not hit the target goal then I will be donating 100% of this campaign to charity. Fan engagement comes in all shapes and sizes, lets have fun folks!" explained Dinwiddie on the GoFundMe page.  

Toni Kukoc called Kevin Durant the best player in the NBA, stating that this current era doesn't require a main playmaker to generate offense. 

"Basketball doesn’t require a playmaker anymore, somebody that you always look for that has to bring the ball up the floor. In this era, there's so many players with multiple skills, that it’s almost a waste of time to look for the playmaker when someone can push the ball and get into the offense.

"Plenty of times LeBron is mistaken as a point guard, which is awesome. Kevin Durant, to me in my personal opinion, is the best player in the NBA. He can easily bring the ball up the floor. That’s a style that the triangle offense allowed that any one of us could run the point or be a post person or fill the corners. It’s not requirement to have a point guard, you can have skill players with 3 or 4 guys on the same team playing multiple positions," said Kukoc in a Reddit AMA.

Durant will not return to the Nets this season as he recovers from an Achilles injury, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Adrian Wojnarowski reiterated that Kevin Durant will not return to the Brooklyn Nets this year even with the season delayed.

“Guys, Kevin Durant’s not coming back to the Nets this year, that’s not happening, they’re not playing him," said Wojnarowski on The Woj Pod.

Rich Kleiman, Durant's business partner, echoed those thoughts in an interview with Frank Isola and Wes Wilcox.

“From my standpoint, no. I think it’s unrealistic. That’s just my view on it. We haven’t gotten deep into the conversation about it because of how unrealistic it all seems to me. I figure that, if something changed, he would tell me," said Kleiman.

Sean Marks added last week that Durant will be 100% when he returns to the court.

Mark Jackson said that he would do more to communicate with the general manager and owner should he get an opportunity to coach again.

Jackson has been rumored with the Nets and Knicks coaching positions.

"I was a guy that always was told to stay in your place. So as a coach (with the Warriors), I wasn't trying to get in the business of the general manager or the ownership ... So I think the relationships of general managers and ownership (is something I'd take a different approach with). And I have a great relationship with (Warriors GM) Bob Myers. There's no question about that. Forget about what you heard.

Do me a favor: on the record ask Bob Myers what he thinks of Mark Jackson. On the record, not behind the scenes, ask (Warriors owner) Joe Lacob about the relationship that I had with him. So I wouldn't say better relationships, I would say more dialogue across the board," said Jackson on First Take this week.

Jackson reportedly wanted to add Jeff Van Gundy to the coaching staff when he was with the Warriors.

Jackson also defended himself on the role he had in developing the Warriors' core.

"The fact is we were a top five defense over the course of that tenure and we were a top 10 offense when it was all said and done. You have to understand - and these guys will admit it - the Steph Currys, the Klay Thompsons, the Draymond Greens: the team that I had are not the same individuals (that they were when I coached them). They look the same, and they're the same people, but they're not the same players that they were when I first got ahold of them."

Tom Thibodeau told First Take that he's been visiting several NBA teams and studying the modern evolution of the league since getting fired as head coach during the 2018-19 season.

Thibodeau said that he's figuring out ways to combine load management with up-to-date sports science.

"My experience this past year in going around and visiting a number of different teams and seeing it -- and it's been evolving this way for probably the last three or four years -- there's different ways to manage practice. There's load management, there's sports scientists, there's situations in which your young guys are practicing a little bit more and your older vets are doing less and you're separating the two, and you're bringing them in toward the end of practice to do whatever needs to be done to prepare for that next game.

So I think utilizing all the resources that you now have, understanding how to use them, how to manage that, has become critical. I think player care, player wellness, those things are prioritized. I think the big thing is, what does it take to be successful in the playoffs?" said Thibodeau.

Thibodeau has been linked with the Knicks, Nets, and Rockets head coaching positions.

"They're just rumors an that's what it is. And this time of year, everything is on hold. Normally you would have some openings and right now there aren't any openings. So you don't want to speculate on what jobs could open."