Report: Bradley Beal Not Expected to Sign New Wizards Contract Before Deadline
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal has until Oct. 21 to decide if he wants to accept his team's three-year, $111 million extension offer, and a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that he "would be surprised" if the 26-year-old signs.
"A source close to Beal said he would be surprised if Beal accepts the extension offer by the Oct. 21 deadline and instead expects him to see how things go with the Wizards this season before making any decisions on his future," Jackson wrote.
Per Spotrac, the shooting guard's five-year, $127.2 million deal expires after 2020-21.
Beal averaged a career-high 25.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds last season and fueled the team's offensive production after backcourt mate John Wall suffered a season-ending left heel injury in December.
Beal spoke about his upcoming extension decision with Chris Miller of NBC Sports Washington on The Wizards Talk podcast (h/t Quinton Mayo of NBC Sports Washington).
"Honestly you might slap me, but I haven't thought about it," Beal said. "I'm just getting better and letting my agent [Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard] and everybody else deal with it.
"I just go hoop. Every day I see somebody and they ask, 'Beal, you leaving?' and I'm like, 'I'm still living in D.C., I ain't going nowhere.'"
Sheppard also weighed in, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington (h/t Yahoo Sports).
"Knowing that he has two more years under contract with us is valuable information. I take my cues on how he's interacting," Sheppard said. "He has shown time and time again how committed he is to D.C."
Jackson provided some insight on what may lie ahead, mentioning the Miami Heat as a possible destination if Beal decides to head elsewhere.
"Beal—who feels some measure of loyalty to the Wizards, according to the associate — has not given the Wizards any indication that he wants to leave, and the Wizards would not consider making him available in trade talks unless it becomes clear to them that they would lose him in free agency in 2021.
"The associate said if Beal opts for free agency in 2021, the Heat will receive strong consideration, as would the Los Angeles teams and potentially a few others. But the Heat is definitely on his radar if he decides to move on from the Wizards — a decision that has not yet been made, according to the associate."
As for now, the Wizards are set to open their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Dallas Mavericks. Washington, which finished 32-50 last year and missed the playoffs, is looking to return to the postseason for the fifth time in seven years.
