What’s Next for Bradley Beal?
With the 2022 NBA Finals in the books, one of the most anticipated parts of any NBA season is next: the offseason.
The 2022 NBA Draft took place on June 23, 2022, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. And while the league hasn’t made an official announcement yet, many believe that the 2022 free agency period will open on June 30, 2022.
As we’ve seen in the past, fans tend to anticipate free agency as it will dictate where big names will play the following season and beyond. Remember when LeBron James announced he would bring his talents to South Beach? Or the time he made the jump to the Los Angeles Lakers? Incidentally, this free agency period might also include LeBron James in the mix as well, though this time acting more as a recruiter as opposed to being on the move himself.
While names like Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Zach Lavine, and James Harden are just some of the big names expected to be thrown into the frenzy, one-star looks to make a splash this summer as well: Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
And there’s no one outside of Beal’s inner circle that currently has a firm grasp on what the talented guard may do this offseason.
No Indication
Beal’s name has been included in a variety of trade rumours over the years. Yet, time after time, he opted for loyalty towards the Wizards.
In a decade-long career in the NBA, Bradley Beal averaged 22.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds with Washington. His best-scoring season came in 2020-2021, where he had a 31.3 point per game average- the league’s second-highest scorer.
During the 2021-2022 season, the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft appeared in only 40 regular-season games as he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Despite the shortened run, Beal still averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists (career-high), and 4.7 rebounds in those 40 contests.
At 28, Beal is still in his prime, and when healthy, he could give any team an instant scoring boost. The question remains though: Will he stay in DC?
Beal can sign a $36.4 million dollar player option for the 2022-2023 season. However, observers expect him to decline the player option to enter free agency. This potential move could mean two things: Either he is ready to leave the capital, or he wants to maximize his guaranteed money by signing a five-year extension in Washington.
While sources believe that Beal has already made up his mind about his future in the NBA, the three-time All-Star is keeping the decision to himself for the time being as he mentioned how he believes it’s improper to discuss future contracts while still on his current deal.
Many believe one reason Beal might stay in DC is his belief that he could win a championship with the Wizards. If however he believes that he could win a chip with the current roster of the Wizards, it would be an uphill climb.
If he chooses to stay in DC and sign a lengthy extension, there’s also the possibility that he would want out in the middle of the new contract, especially if things aren’t going according to plan in the Eastern Conference standings for the club.
There’s also been rumours linking the 3x All-Star to the Celtics given his relationship with forward Jayson Tatum and the belief that the Celtics could be “a piece away” from claiming banner number 18 in 2022-23.
Everything seems to be on the table for the former Florida Gator at the moment. The good news for basketball fans though is that you only need to wait a few more days to find out what’s next for Bradley Beal.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.