NBA Trade Rumors, 12th Jan 2019: Bradley Beal not joining Lakers, Sixers target big man and more

We have now passed the halfway point of the 2018/19 NBA season, and teams are starting to get a good idea about where they currently stand. Up until this point, both Conferences have remained competitive, with eleven teams in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, whereas every team except the Phoenix Suns has a shot in the West.

The February trade deadline is also quickly approaching, as the NBA has made changes to the deadline so that it will now always occur 10 days before the All-Star game. This has been done so that players who get traded have time to settle into their new teams, and this year's trade window will close on February 7th. So with the deadline just a month away, here are the biggest trade rumors you need to know for January 12th.

#1 Bradley Beal backed to stay with the Washington Wizards

Back in November, reports surfaced that Bradley Beal wanted out of the Washington Wizards, and Beal has been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers ever since. Despite this USA Today is reporting that teams such as the Lakers will be unable to put a trade package together for Beal this month:

There haven't been too many murmurs regarding Beal on the trade market recently, but his name has come up just enough. It's doubtful we see the shooting guard get dealt this season, even if the team continues to struggle. Especially not with Washington (somehow) only three games out of a playoff spot in the East. Beal is simply too valuable an asset to move -- performing at an elite level while under contract for another two years after this one.

Beal is a one-time All-Star, and so far this season he is averaging 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.