Bradley Beal spoke with the local media for the first time since undergoing season-ending wrist surgery.
When asked if it was fair he would be re-signing with the Wizards this summer, Beal answered, “That’s fair, that’s fair,” according to Hoop District.
Beal has a player option at the end of this season. If he declines the player option, he can then sign a five-year, $246 million extension with the Wizards.
Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard has been tweaking the team’s roster over the past two seasons trying to appease Beal.
Washington traded longtime backcourt mate John Wall before the 2020-21 season for Russell Westbrook. While Westbrook rewrote the franchise’s record books with triple-doubles, ultimately, the connection didn’t work as well as advertised.
Sheppard traded Westbrook before this season — at Westbrook’s request — to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package that included Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. In addition, the team added free agent Spencer Dinwiddie.
However, there was dissension in the locker room and team chemistry was lacking. Thus, the Wizards traded Dinwiddie and Harrell in separate deals. Washington got 7-foot-3 forward Kristaps Porzingis in return from the Dallas Mavericks in the Dinwiddie trade.
Now, the focus of the franchise is getting Beal to ink an extension.
Beal is using his time off for his wrist to evaluate the current Wizards roster. Being out will give him more time to think about his decision. But right now it’s fair to assume he is leaning towards staying put in Washington.
