The next few days could very well determine the fate of the Washington Wizards for years to come. Just on the outside looking in of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Wizards should be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline as it could very well decide whether or not they will be able to re-sign Bradley Beal to a long-term deal this offseason.

Beal is likely to decline his option for the 2022-23 season and become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer. While that doesn’t mean he is guaranteed to be moving on, until pen is put to paper on a new contract, Washington will be nervous that he could move on.

The Wizards front office did a good job of upgrading the roster this offseason, as they got off to a hot start. But, that success has proven to not be sustainable, as the Wizards have slowly fallen down the standings as the season has gone on.

Now, Wizards fans are even more nervous about the future as Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein is making a rare appearance in Washington D.C. from Chicago ahead of the NBA trade deadline. His presence will cause questions to fly around what he could be doing in the city.

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“Bartelstein was in town to meet with Wizards management as they get set to navigate a critical juncture for the franchise ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, NBC Sports Washington was told. The timing, of course, is interesting as it pertains to Beal. He has been mulling a max contract offer all season, which he has shown no indication he is ready to sign.”

Beal is currently sidelined with an injured wrist, which has kept him out for four straight games. He was going to be re-evaluated today to determine what the next step in his recovery would be. If he needs to sit out for an extended period of time, the Wizards season could go down the drain.

Is Bartelstein in town to inform the Wizards that Beal is going to explore other options in free agency, meaning they should look to trade him ahead of the NBA trade deadline and get back as many assets as they can? Or will he push the Wizards to make a deal ahead of the deadline to improve their playoff chances and push Bradley Beal closer to wanting to re-sign?

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Whatever the reason may be, the Washington Wizards would appreciate some clarity so they can figure out the next steps to getting the team back on track and in playoff contention not only for this season but years to come.