FEBRUARY 10: Beal underwent surgery on his left wrist today in New York, the Wizards announced in a press release. The team didn’t provide a timeline for his recovery, but it’s safe to say he’ll miss the rest of the season, as noted below.
FEBRUARY 8: Wizards star Bradley Beal will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured left wrist, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), the procedure will repair a torn scapholunate ligament.
The Wizards have confirmed in a press release that Beal will undergo surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his wrist and will miss the rest of the season.
“Despite the last 10 days of getting intensive treatment and rehab on my wrist, it became clear that I would not be able to compete to my standards or to the level that our team and our fans deserve,” Beal said in a statement. “I’m disappointed to have my season end this way, but we all agreed that this was the best decision. I look forward to coming back at 100% and continuing to lead this team as we work together to build toward the future.”
Marc Stein had reported earlier today (via Twitter) that evaluations were ongoing on Beal’s wrist, with the Wizards hoping to avoid surgery and considering alternative treatment options. However, it appears Beal and the team decided that surgery was the best choice to address the injury.
It’s a tough blow for the Wizards, whose season has been in a downward spiral since they got off to a 10-3 start and briefly held the top spot in the Eastern Conference — they have since lost 26 of 40 games to fall to 24-29. Although Washington is just one game behind Atlanta for the 10th seed in the East, a playoff berth looks like a long shot with Beal unavailable the rest of the way.
It will be interesting to see how president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard approaches the trade deadline with Beal sidelined and whether Washington fully shifts its focus to next season, perhaps trying to retool the roster around its star guard like Portland is doing with Damian Lillard.
Of course, it would be a riskier strategy for the Wizards, since Beal can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his $36.4MM player option for 2022/23. Multiple recent reports have indicated Washington remains focused on re-signing Beal to a long-term deal and there are no indications he wants to leave D.C. But he’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on any roster moves the club makes this week and around the draft before making a decision on his future in free agency.
The star guard, who turns 29 this summer, would be eligible for a five-year maximum-salary deal of $245MM+ as a free agent, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. If Washington was on board with making that commitment prior to Beal’s injury and is confident he’ll make a full recovery, presumably his surgery won’t affect the team’s willingness to invest in him long-term.
That’s the season
Well, that could put a wrench in some possible trade plans.
trade beal to the lakers. watch the lakers will make that deal
No
This is a rumor but he is faking it because he didn’t want to go to Philly. Rumor the deal was done for Simmons. Now it’s off the table.
Is he going to fake a surgery also?
Yes, it’s not as hard as you think…
Sure, Jan. Your dad wants you to do the dishes you said you’d wash last night.
Rumor? More like conspiracy theory.
Yes, I’m sure he didn’t want to go to a title contender at the deadline and, instead, force himself to sit out for the remainder of the season.
Beal is very close with his wife. Rumor is she didn’t want to go from DC to second-rate city like Philly. Only NY or somewhere with warm weather
It’s not like they had to stay there forever. He could’ve been a rental if he wanted to since he’s likely going to be a UFA at the end of season. And if they ended up enjoying Philly more than expected, it would’ve given them another option to consider.
Can you even name another instance of a player faking a major surgery? Faking a hamstring pull or knee soreness is one thing, but surgery is on its whole own level. No way the league would ever go for that. That would be a significant scandal.
Of course I can’t name another instance. That would mean they got caught. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
LOL Philly is 2 hours up the road, they didn’t even have to move if they didn’t want to. Not like it’s a trade to Sacramento
Making stuff up again. Beal is the #1 trade target in NBA. You don’t move him at TD.
Okay so you’ve heard otherwise then? Who is the one making things up Al?
I don’t hear. I research. You really are a lost mind. You got no wit and no basketball knowledge. All you do is troll here.
Wow. This franchise has the worst luck. Going from ammunition to witchcraft didn’t work. Maybe they could change their name to the Botanists. Maybe then their fate will change.
Not really. They had multiple years to trade Beal but refused to do so, despite it being so very clear that they team could not be brought above mediocrity with its current talent and assets. Of course, ownership was satisfied with mediocrity so it wasn’t an issue.
If anything, this is karma. Not so much for Beal, but for the organization’s constant missteps and acceptance of settling.
Horrible management isn’t bad luck
Beal reminds me a lot of mccollum. 2 players that were playing in smaller markets that got huge deals from teams that struggle to sign players. Paid like superstars, but they aren’t stars. Very good yes, star I don’t think so. Just because Beal was best on his team does not make him a star.
When is the last time they drug tested McCollum for scoring too many points in a game?
“…players that were playing in smaller markets….”
@ Wowwwwww;
The 5 counties that surround Washington, DC are the 5 wealthiest counties by income in America…not the Hamptons, not Silicon Valley, not Wall Street areas, etc. The money is printed there, and most that’s printed is distributed there (including lobbyists that buy season tickets, then offer offer games to government employees – the cost is passed onto the taxpayer when contracts for services are signed).
No DC professional team is a “small market team”.
Except one is much better than the other
The Bullets are flying in all the wrong directions but they should be able to trade everybody now. They would be fools to give Beal 245 mil. He is on his way down!
Well Morey probably gets 1 of Harden Beal Dame now in the offseason
I still think I liked some more fluid options from ATL and Sac that could have be done today but this is what he wanted and this is what he will probably get; 2022 be damned
Means Dinwiddie is gone. And Wash are sellers. All in on that lottery pick next yr. Plenty of good bigs in draft next yr. Washington Tankers ……
I hope Knicks are looking Dinwiddie ….
Rumor is Mitch for Deni and Bertans incoming
Yeah ok
Why not Knicks have wanted Deni since the draft and Bertans helps space the floor and can even play point if needed to take burden off Randle. Mitch gives Bullets some needed floor presence and toughness. It’s practically a done deal.
That trade doesn’t work…
The guy is a troll. Why bother with him. He gets off on HoopsRumors. A big Yankee fan
Takes one to know one Alvin
Horrible trade lol
If they give Beal a max contract they will be desperately trying to move him in two years.
Beal at max contact is crazy.. sorry but he is in a couple year decline now this.. If any other team still value him as a franchise player good luck.. will be worst new contract given this off-season by far
Disaster for the Wiz who really should’ve been looking to move him to avoid the possibility (probability?) they’ll lose him for little/nothing this summer.
He’s NOT a winner and will never win. He’s another stats guy and only cares about $$$. And he wont go anywhere else because he can make much more in WA and he can do whatever he wants to do. TRADE him anf dont get stuck with his contract!!!!
You mean like lebron…. Oh wait he has won . Oh wait that was the league and refs always helping him year in and year out
Here is the likely scenario all rumors aside:
Wiz front office says to Beal “hey, season’s not looking good, let’s sit you down quietly a la SGA last year.” Gives plausible deniability for tanking.
Then after the season ends they say, “hey Brad. We’re gonna float this pick out there and see who we can get to help you.” And if he leaves, they’ve got a high first rounder to draft someone new.
Not a rumor, just my guess. Smash the like button if you agree.
The similarities between Beal & Dame keep on growing, now both decided on surgery to end their seasons, a season were both have been terrible & decided to quit on their teams!
Beal’s lack of 3 pt production this season was concerning. Doesn’t play much defense either. He looks like he’s on the downside of his career. The Wizards are probably stuck watching him leave in FA this offseason, there’s no way you give him a max deal.