Bradley Beal Says He'll Finish His Career with Wizards 'If I Can Control It'

As the Washington Wizards continue to fight for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Bradley Beal isn't thinking about a possible exit strategy from the team this summer. 

In a first-person article on The Undefeated, Beal explained that "if I can control it," he will play his entire career with the Wizards: 

"For me, I am kind of loyal to a fault. I'm kind of like Dame [Damian Lillard] in this realm that it would probably mean so much more to you winning it in Portland or winning it in D.C., because you know you grinding all those years. Then once you eventually come out of that light, I feel like the feeling would be so much grander than necessarily jumping ship. Jumping ship is kind of the easy way out."

Beal also cited a number of superstars who played their entire careers with one organization: "For me, I look at Kobe, I look at D-Wade [Dwyane Wade], I look at Dirk [Nowitzki], U.D. [Udonis Haslem], how they can stay in one situation for a long time."

Any discussion of Beal possibly being dealt this season went away when he signed to a two-year extension in October with the Wizards, who drafted him third overall in 2012 out of Florida. 

The deal does include an opt-out that could make Beal a free agent after the 2021-22 season. The Wizards have been trending in the wrong direction with a 32-50 record in 2018-19 and currently own a 22-39 mark in 2019-20. The team made it as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2015 and 2017.

Despite those recent struggles by the organization, Beal has made it sound like he has no intention of requesting a trade this summer.

Speaking to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes in January (h/t NBC Sports Washington's Eric Myers), the St. Louis native said he didn't demand a trade last summer because he thought of it as "kind of the easy way out."

Washington's roster figures to look significantly different next season. John Wall, a five-time All-Star who hasn't played since December 2018 due to heel and Achillies injuries, could return at the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Rui Hachimura, the team's first-rounder last year, has shown promise, averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. 

Taking on the role as the face of Wizards basketball, Beal has responded with the most productive season of his career. The 26-year-old ranks second in the NBA with 30.4 points per game and is averaging a career-high 6.1 assists per game.