Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal is coming off yet another tremendous season for the fledgling organization.
Dealing with trade rumors on a near never-ending loop, the 27-year-old Beal averaged 31.3 points en route to leading Washington to a surprise playoff appearance.
The question now becomes whether Beal will remain in D.C. for the long haul. Despite the team’s success this past season, Washington’s organization has not done enough to build a solid supporting cast behind Beal. That changed to an extent with the addition of future Hall of Fame guard Russell Westbrook. However, it’s not yet known how many years Russ has remaining in his prime.
According to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington, the Wizards will look to lock Bradley Beal up on a max-level contract extension this summer.
“The Wizards will be allowed to negotiate a new contract with Beal, and are expected to try, according to a person familiar with their plans,” Hughes reported. “But Beal has several factors to consider and, given the timing, can watch the Wizards’ offseason play out before really thinking about it. The deadline for his extension, though yet to be specified by the league, will be in the fall.”
Interestingly enough, Beal signed a two-year, $71.8 million extension with Washington back in 2019. Said extension won’t kick in until next season and comes with an option for 2022-23. With that said, Beal is eligible for a new deal under the current NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Here’s a look at a few reasons why he should push back against linking himself to Washington over the long-term.
