The NBA trade deadline is just about a week away and the Washington Wizards are at the center of many conversations league-wide. Currently 24-27 on the season and recently having lost six straight games by an average of 11.5 points, the Wizards’ have fallen all the way down to 12th place in the Eastern Conference at one point with their playoff chances appearing to be bleak.
Bradley Beal has once again been the main focal point offensively for the Wizards, but their supporting cast is still struggling and Beal’s future in Washington is in jeopardy.
There was a lot of discussion this past offseason about Bradley Beal’s next contract and if he would remain a member of the Washington Wizards. Beal is in his 10th season both in the NBA and with the Wizards, but he has been a part of numerous rebuilds with the organization.
Now in the prime of his career and being just 28-years-old, Bradley Beal could very much look to take his talents elsewhere instead of once again trying to build something in Washington.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal Conflicted About Future With Washington Wizards
After this season, Beal has a $36.4M player option that he could very much decline in order to become an unrestricted free agent. With a projected max contract extension of $242M over five years, the Wizards will definitely be able to offer their All-Star the most money, but he could also opt to sign with another team on a projected max contract worth roughly $180M over four years.
According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge and Josh Robbins, Bradley Beal is “conflicted” about his long-term future as a member of the Washington Wizards. He does have a desire to stay with the organization and continue to try and build something in Washington, but Beal is “uncertain” about the team’s chances of surrounding him with the “difference-making talent” necessary to succeed.
“Multiple league sources have indicated Beal remains conflicted. His desire to stay for his entire career with the franchise that took him third overall in 2012 remains genuine. But Beal also remains uncertain about whether the Wizards can surround him with difference-making talent that will make them a regular playoff contender. His contention in a recent interview with NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller that another Play-In Tournament appearance would be a step back for him spoke volumes.”
With the NBA trade deadline being about a week away and this news just coming out, the question for the Wizards now becomes if they should entertain the idea of trading Bradley Beal?
