The Washington Wizards are looking to keep Bradley Beal long-term.
Reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team will offer Beal a max extension on Friday, the moment he is eligible.
The extension, worth three years and $111 million, would keep the All-Star shooting guard in Washington for the foreseeable future. His current contract ends in 2021, where he could enter unrestricted free agency.
Beal could decline this extension and receive another offer at the end of next year. Wojnarowski reported that if Beal makes an All-NBA Team next season, the Wizards could offer him a five year, $254 million supermax extension. Without an All-NBA selection, the deal would be worth four years and $155 million.
With the offer being extended as soon as possible, it shows the Wizards want Beal to become the face of the franchise. He, along with point guard John Wall, are one of the best backcourts in the league when healthy. Wall’s Achilles injury was a huge blow to the team’s plans, sinking their playoff hopes last season.
The Wizards have a bleak outlook right now, but hope for Beal to stay long-term and get the team back into playoff contention.
Is Beal Worth the Max?
In his seven years in the league, Bradley Beal has proven himself to be one of the league’s best scorers and perimeter shooters. In today’s NBA, he is definitely worth a max contract.
With Wall out with injury, Beal had to carry the load for the Wizards. He responded by having a career-year, averaging bests in points, rebounds and assists with 25.6, 5, and 5.5. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year.
Beal is only 26 years old, and is in his prime as a player. A guard who scores as efficiently as he does, shooting 47 percent from the field and 35 percent from three, deserves to be paid among the top players in the NBA.
Should He Re-Sign with Washington?
Beal will have between Friday and October 21 to make his decision on this current extension. The Wizards would love to have him stay, but should the feeling be mutual?
With Wall likely out for most if not all of next season, the Wizards will be in bad shape moving forward. Even if Wall were healthy, Washington would have a mediocre roster as currently constructed. While the team drafted Admiral Schofield and Rui Hachimura, and acquired players from the Lakers, in addition to signing Isaiah Thomas, the Wizards severely lack talent.
Looking forward, Washington doesn’t appear to be close to a winning formula anytime soon. With a healthy Beal and Wall, the Wizards never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
The team is also strapped for assets, in the hopes of acquiring a third star. Wall’s contract is nearly immovable, and the team doesn’t have many young prospects they could shop.
Beal, like most max players, should make his decision based on chances of winning. Since he is a phenomenal player, he will get paid regardless. As of now, the nation’s capital is not the best place to compete for a title.
If Beal declines the extension, it could be a sign of his intentions, and the Wizards could look to trade him. If that happens, they will likely be able to get a huge package in return.
Beal could find himself on a playoff team or even title contender. A new team could offer him a deal similar to what the Wizards will, and if he isn’t happy with that team, he would hit the market in 2021 and weigh all his options.
Bradley Beal will deservedly make a lot of money on his next contract. Finding a winning destination should be his priority.
Featured image credited to USA Today.
Stats credited to basketball-reference.com.
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