In his first media session since undergoing season-ending wrist surgery, star Bradley Beal was asked Thursday if it’s fair to say he’s leaning towards re-signing with the Wizards, to which he replied, “That’s fair, that’s fair,” according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington (Twitter link).
Beal can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his $36.4MM player option for 2022/23, making him eligible for a five-year, maximum-salary deal worth $245MM+. Beal will have 10 years of service once the new league year begins, which will allow him to sign for 35% ($42.35MM) of the projected $121MM salary cap for 2022/23, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.
[RELATED: Maximum Salary Projections For 2022/23]
Beal said winning and the team’s role in the community are the most important factors in deciding his future. “It’s a big summer and I’m excited for it. Ted (Leonsis), Tommy (Sheppard), we all are,” he said. Beal considers his 2021/22 season “up-and-down” and “incomplete,” and is frustrated by the fact that he could only play 40 games due to the injury (Twitter links courtesy of Chase Hughes).
Beal said being out for the remainder of the season will allow him more time to consider his future while observing the roster and development of the team’s young players. He said that aspect of being sidelined was a blessing in disguise, Hughes tweets.
Beal was also complimentary of new addition Kristaps Porzingis. “Just imagine him and Gaff (Daniel Gafford) out there. That’s going to be sick. Then, you’ve got Kuz (Kyle Kuzma) at 6’9″, 6’10”. We’ve got great size. We’ve never had that,” Beal said. Porzingis has yet to play a game for the Wizards, but he was able to play five-on-five with the team for the first time Thursday (Twitter links via Hughes).
The Wizards are currently 28-33, 11th in the East. They trail Atlanta by one game for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Beal averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on .451/.300/.833 shooting in his 40 games (36.0 minutes) this season.
This is no brainer. He had no intention whatsoever to go anywhere, just wanted to get super max 5 year contract with Wizards. He is super comfortable padding stats without pressure to win, and being treated as loyalty in WA. No winning DNA or leadership whatsoever.
I totally agree, the loyalty thing its absolutely overrated and is starting to be the perfect excuse for players that don’t care too much about winning and care more about money.
Or maybe he and his wife like the D.C., perhaps he has personal and business ventures that are more practical to oversee in Washington, maybe he likes the front office and ownership. If all else fails the way the contract rules are written maybe he doesn’t want to give up millions to go somewhere else and not win there either. The only guarantee he are any other player has is the money.
No winning DNA? Is that like his whole genetic family too? So his entire family is a bunch of non winning DNA athletes?
Do u know anything about Brad Beal??
That comment is baseless. Everything else was cool but that.
He’s played 10 years in NBA and you cant just always blame your teammates and FO for the failures. You have to step up, play better, and make your teammates better. Take ownership for not winning.
So he’s responsible? You mean for all the bad contracts the team gave out, Wall completely dropping off the face of the earth? He’s the only one out there that has been consistent, but he can’t do it all alone. Saying he doesn’t have any winning DNA is naive.
No winning DNA or leadership? He is easily a top 20 player in the NBA and by all accounts is a great teammate. You just want him to jump ship and win with a super team? Forget that, that’s lame. Wonder what you’ll say if the Wiz win a title in the next 5 seasons?
It would be awesome to see the Wizards win it all with Beals. However, Beals hasnt shown anything so far in 10 years that they can win with him aside from padded stats. Numbers dont lie and he hasnt prioritized winning. Even this year, Wizards got off to a great start only to fade and Beals wasnt able to lead his talented him to a successful season before his injury. He needs to take ownership of that if he is ever going to take his game to the next level.
Good move for him he loves DC area
The Wizards should’ve traded him. They will be looking to move this contract before the halfway point. Wall 2.0
He should sign that extension with the wizards can always try and force a trade. A year or two later
These long-term contracts over 35-40 million a year usually don’t work out very well. A couple of years ago they did the same thing with John Wall. Remember that?
WAS should trade him, and get younger cheaper players and draft assets.
He will be fine this is first year really having a serious injury. WAS aren’t trading him why trade for KP then?
I don’t normally agree with the styles approach, but these Beal comments about the tall frontline (“Gaff, Kuz, Zing”) suggests a scheme is at foot— to follow what the Cavs have done. Backcourt height that did not get along with Beal, was traded for frontcourt height that did— and thus, hopefully, Beal is in s good frame of mind, willing to sign. Happiness has run dry this year for WAS until this presser, that I can tell.
So WAS noted that CLE shot past them!
The benefit is that a team does no have to work so hard to be effective bc there are always shotblockers to back players up on defense. (See how relaxed KLove has been on offense with the new height on defense. He often works up top.)
Being able to relax on defense will help Beal (and GM Sheppard) be able to justify the max with Beal’s ppg.
The max offer was probably budgeted in long ago.
lol I could be wrong, maybe Beal was just playing us, counting his wealth early. No inside info.
Huh? But yeah I see Washington going the same route. Continue to build build around Beal. Idk what Point Guards they can get unless Beal is playing the full time point which I doubt it.
They tried to build an offensive attack around him already but he kind of just complained about defense. So now they will try a defensive theme using length. As I see it.
is one player worth 35% of the teams salary? 78 mil left to spend on the rest.
Based on the way star players have moved teams the last few seasons (any which way other than as FAs), there is no down side to signing the extension. Book that home team 5 year max. It’s not like he has to actually play for WSH the next 5 years just because signed a contract committing to.
Indeed
It’s probably at the point where it’s discussed freely by both parties beforehand now.(The when, where and how to the possible future exit)
Not the intention of the 8% raise but as long as said player is still young enough and produces + value both parties are going to continue doing this (happily)
I can see all the errors in the system but I can’t see an answer. Small markets always going to have to run uphill somehow/someway
$59 says he doesn’t resign