NBA Fact & Fiction: Bradley Beal off the trade market, Kevin Durant opts out, where's Horford going?

With so many moves and rumors swirling already ahead of the start of free agency, we'll spend most weekday mornings now breaking down the latest developments on that front mixed in with BSJ Analysis. This will hopefully help you sort through the fact and fiction of all the latest big news and rumors while getting a Celtics spin on things to help measure any impact on Boston's plans. 

Wizards owner says Bradley Beal won't be traded

The Wizards don't have much going for them outside of the sharpshooting Bradley Beal when it comes to their own roster. With John Wall likely sidelined for the season and the team having not much left over to even contend for a playoff spot, selling high on the shooting guard might seem like a wise play. However, Beal has been told by owner Ted Leonsis and Wizards management that he won't be dealt according to the Washington Post.

“They’ve been very transparent and that’s been great,” Beal said. “They’re not keeping me in the dark about anything, even about the trade rumors. . . . It’s great having that peace of mind.”

Beal would have been one of the more realistic trade targets for the Celtics this summer (i.e. a good player that a bad team would have been willing to move for lots of assets). However, it's fair to note that the Wizards made a similar declaration about Otto Porter Jr. a couple of weeks before the trade deadline last February and ended up moving him to the Bulls days later. Beal is a better player than Porter Jr., so I'm more inclined to take the Wizards at their word with him now. However, if things stay ugly down in DC during this season, I imagine this is a call the C's might be making again as we approach the trade deadline.

Kevin Durant opts out

This is one of the most expected moves of this summer since Durant was making a few million short of the max in his second-year option. The only thing that it really changes from a league-wide perspective is that it takes away a long shot opt-in and trade option for some teams that may have had the cap room to sign Durant. However, since most of his suitors have opened up cap room, now it's just going to be a matter of him deciding whether he wants to rehab in Golden State and continually contend or head East as has been rumored heavily. The Celtics will surely be asking for a meeting with him in free agency with their newfound cap room but there have been no rumblings about his interest in playing here after a second-place finish in 2015.

Rockets pursuing a Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com was first to report this angle last night as Houston is a team with no cap room so they will need to get creative to land a star. While it's an intriguing thought to add a third scorer to the James Harden/Chris Paul duo, the Rockets will run into several roadblocks in this avenue. First, they have to convince Butler to come and then from there, they have to hope the Sixers prefer some of their trade chips (Clint Capela, Eric Gordon) over alternative options on the free agent market that they could pursue with cap space. That's far from a sure thing from general manager Elton Brand's perspective.

Butler would also potentially be giving up an extra year of max money (Sixers can offer five-year contract) and higher annual raises by turning down a max offer from the Sixers. Houston has a case to be a top contender with Butler in the fold but it may not be stronger than Philly's if they are bringing everyone back. I'd be surprised if Daryl Morey can pull off all the moving parts here and make it happen.

Where is Al Horford going?  This remains one of the biggest mysteries heading into free agency after his camp informed the Celtics that he would be moving on last week. While rumors of a big deal being offered have been mentioned by Dallas, the latest rumblings about their Kemba Walker pursuit would take them out of the running for giving Horford big money. Additionally, the Clippers remain another suitor with big cap room but their plans could shift if they don't end up with Kawhi Leonard as well. There are other teams with big cap room (Knicks, Kings, Pacers, Pelicans) but none of those seem like obvious fits beyond maybe Sacramento. Would Horford want to finish his career there? Maybe the Clippers are the team all along that have been lying in the weeds but there is still a chance that this is all a smoke screen to drum up the market for the big man after a disappointing offer for Boston. 

Expect a J.R. Smith trade in the coming days

His $15-million salary is only partially guaranteed for next season, making him an easy way for a team to dump an unwanted contract to the Cavs (along with an asset). A move will come by June 30th (the guaranteed date for next year) in the next few days as Cleveland tries to add another young prospect or a pick from some team that needs salary relief.