Wizards guard Bradley Beal will become a restricted free agent when the NBA offseason officially begins in July. The 22-year-old wants to remain in Washington and sign a long-term deal but it might not be a maximum contract.
"If I can be here, I want to be here. I don't even know what I'm going into right now. It's like choosing colleges again. I'm happy where I am," Beal told CSN Mid-Atlantic on April 18, Monday. He could sign any offer sheet from other NBA teams and force the Wizards to match it. The Wizards will have 72 hours to do so or they will lose him for nothing.
Washington was willing to give Beal a max contract at the start of the 2015-16 season but there were questions about his ability to stay healthy. In his third season in the NBA, he missed about eight weeks due to a non-displaced fracture of the scaphoid bone in his left wrist.
The Syracuse product then injured his big toe that caused a mild stress reaction to his right fibula. It was no different this season as he suffered from numerous injuries again including a broken nose, a concussion, a pelvic strain and another stress reaction in his right leg for the fourth straight year.
Beal was not able to play in 27 games this past season and the Wizards failed to make the playoffs for the first time in three years. Head coach Rany Whittman, who was fired this past week, failed to manage the guard's minutes.
The 22-year-old has missed a total of 82 games in his four years in the league, equivalent to one full NBA regular season. His right fibula is the most concerning injury since it has occurred in every season he has played.
The third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft also revealed that his case is unique because he is the only player suffering from this type of injury. However, he has been rehabbing every offseason and continues to listen to his doctors regarding the right training program.
According to ESPN, the Wizards have the cap space to re-sign Beal to a max contract that could be worth around $21.1 million per season. It is a big risk for Washington, especially if the St. Louis-native struggles again with injuries for the years to come.
Watch the video below for some of the highlights of Beal's young career.