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Bradley Beal Injury: Washington Wizards Guard Out 6-8 Weeks

By Michael Dunlap

Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during practice before the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during practice before the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal breaks wrist, will miss 6-8 weeks

Bradley Beal left the Washington Wizards’ game against the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night with what was initially suspected to be a sprained wrist. Upon further evaluation completed on Saturday, a small fracture was revealed, which may require surgery, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com.. Beal will miss 6-8 weeks and the Wizards will miss him badly.

The Wizards were one of the feel-good stories of the 2013-14 season, making the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season on the backs of backcourt mates John Wall and Beal. They finished the season 44-38, secured the No. 5 seed and took out the No. 4 seeded Chicago Bulls in five games in the Eastern Conference playoffs before bowing out in six games vs. the Indiana Pacers.

Beal had a coming-out party of sorts during the playoff run, leading the Wizards with 19.2 points per game. He added 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 41.6 minutes per game during their 11-game playoff stretch. During the regular season, Beal had averaged a very respectable 17.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Washington will miss Beal’s shooting (40.2 percent from three) — badly. They lost their best 3-point shooting regular in Trevor Ariza during the offseason, which left Beal as their best perimeter gunner. The Wizards’ starting five could stand up to anyone in the league, but the depth that was already a question mark will now be tested much earlier than anyone had hoped.

If the Wizards can ride Wall, Paul Pierce, Nene and Marcin Gortat for the next 6-8 weeks without any additional injuries, they’ll be OK. The shooting guard minutes will likely fall to Martell Webster, or the Wizards could choose to go big with a combination of Pierce, Otto Porter Jr. and Glen Rice Jr. working their way through both the two and the three.

It’s not the ideal situation, but with the injury coming this early, Beal and the Wizards will have time to recover and get healthy for the playoff chase after the new year.

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