A report last week indicated that the Wizards will likely offer Bradley Beal a three-year contract extension later in the offseason. On Monday night, Beal told Ben Golliver of The Washington Post that he’s “definitely” open to discussing such an extension, which would begin in 2021/22 and projects to be worth about $111MM.
“I have thought about it, but I haven’t really full-out processed it,” Beal said, per Golliver. “I still have two years left. We just drafted Rui [Hachimura] and I want to see what we do in free agency before I make the ultimate decision. I haven’t even been offered it officially. Until that happens, I’ll wait and think about it. I’ll have an ample amount of time to process everything and make a decision when the time is right.
“I’d be naive to say I wouldn’t be [interested in extension talks],” Beal continued. “Washington is where I’ve been the last seven years, going on eight. It would be great to play in one place forever. But at the same time, you want to win and make sure you’re in a position to do so. I’m definitely going to evaluate who we hire as the GM and who we pick up on the team. All that plays a factor.”
For the time being, Tommy Sheppard continues to serve as the interim general manager for the Wizards, whose owner Ted Leonsis indicated recently that the club won’t hire a new head of basketball operations prior to free agency. As Golliver relays, Beal trusts Sheppard to “run the show until Ted makes his decision,” but with the Wizards’ front office still in state of flux, it makes sense that the All-Star guard isn’t ready to make any long-term commitments quite yet.
Given the Wizards’ place in the lottery last season, Beal’s name has frequently come up in speculation about potential trade candidates, but he tells Golliver that he has been told separately by Leonsis, Sheppard, and head coach Scott Brooks in recent weeks that he’s not going anywhere.
“They’ve been very transparent and that’s been great,” Beal said. “They’re not keeping me in the dark about anything, even about the trade rumors. . . . It’s great having that peace of mind.”
Meanwhile, Beal’s backcourt mate John Wall, who continues to recover from surgery on his torn Achilles, will begin jogging in about two weeks, he told Chris Miller of NBC Sports Washington on Monday night.
“I’m able to move, do ladder steps, doing those types of things,” Wall said. “Just taking my time and progressing and letting everything heal the right way so I don’t force myself back and get another injury.”
If your goal is to win 45-48 games and be bounced in the 2nd round then this makes plenty of sense. But if you’re looking to win/compete for a championship then this is a giant fail. Stop paying 2nd & 3rd tier players max money, it only cripples your franchise.
Beal is totally worth a max deal. You think a team would have a better chance to win with Ariza and Reddick?
Good move to offer, even though I don’t think Beal is a best player on a championship team. Beal just missed on All NBA and the super max last year. So his extension is at 30% (not 35%) and goes out a total of 5 years (not 6 years). He’ll be 26 next season (26-30, are his 5 years).
Not that he is going to be traded, but whether or not he is, if he has (or is having) another great (statistical) year next year, he’s worth more locked up through 2025 in his prime, than with only 1 more year left after next, and at that point probably looking for 5 years from there, perhaps at 35% of a higher cap.
beals agent behind closed doors “shut-up, you can’t carry this team ever night, mng’t isn’t committed to winning.. all star break we’ll get a sign/trade and get relevant”
Beal to agent behind closed doors, “Shut up. You are my employee. I do not work for you. Your opinion is completely irrelevant. Do what I say or I get another puppet.”
Speaking of which, with the value of NBA contracts basically set into stone, what is the actual point of the agent? 10% (or whatever their cut is) seems like a lot of money for just signing a maximum deal that doesn’t really need to be negotiated.
Washington is Phoenix East
Na not that bad. They have been in the playoffs for much of the decade. Washington just got unlucky with the timing of Wall’s injury.