Wizards

Bradley Beal Likely To Opt Out, Sign Longer Deal With Wizards

June 22, 2022

Star guard Bradley Beal is likely to opt out of the final year of his $36.4 million contract and sign a longer deal with the Wizards, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

After opting out, Beal is expected to negotiate a five-year, $245 million deal with Washington. As Wojnarowski added, Beal has been “very consistent” in saying he wants to stay, and GM Tommy Sheppard is planning on that being the case.

The Wizards own the No. 10 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, and most of their focus is placed there, along with attempting to land a starting point guard. Most recently, they have been linked to available Pacers veteran Malcolm Brogdon, as we relayed here.

Beal, 28, missed the second half of the season with a wrist injury. He has been rehabbing the injury since at least early June.

This injury also gave me a mental break, a time to evaluate life, and I haven’t changed my mind-set,” Beal said, via Ava Wallace of the Washington Post. “I enjoy being in D.C.; I enjoy being on this team.”

Beal, 28, suffered a torn ligament on the wrist and underwent surgery less than a month later. Per The Athletic’s Josh Robbins, Beal had his cast and the pins in his wrist removed in late April.

Around that time, Beal said “it’s fair to say” he will be returning to Washington.

“The Wizards have expressed optimism that Beal will re-sign with the only team he’s played for in his 10-year career,” RealGM wrote. “In the past, Beal has said he wants to re-sign in Washington, but recently said both sides know what’s at stake this summer with building the team for the future.”

His scoring average dipped by eight points from last season, but he still led the Wizards in at 23.2 points at the time of the injury, and was also averaging 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Washington finished 35-47 under first-year coach Wes Unseld Jr., failing to qualify for the postseason. They traded for forward Kristaps Porzingis when Beal was injured, so whenever those two suit up and take the court together, it will be a first.