Washington Wizards Rumors: Bradley Beal Will Receive Max

In recent Washington Wizards rumors, it sounds like the team is willing to give shooting guard Bradley Beal a max contract this summer.

Washington Wizards rumors will be persistent throughout the summer as they are one of the destinations people believe Kevin Durant will consider during free agency.

But, before the Wizards can begin courting other team’s free agents, they need to figure out what they are going to do with their own.

The player that will garner the most attention, from the Wizards, other teams around the NBA and media alike will be Bradley Beal. There has already been rumors surrounding Beal recently, as he made it known that he is looking for a max deal this summer as a restricted free agent.

"“I want to be valued the right way,” Beal said to Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post. “I feel like I’m a max player, and that’s what I’m looking for. If Washington can’t meet that requirement, then I may be thinking elsewhere. I’m pretty sure that they probably won’t (let me go). At the end of the day, that’s where I want to be. I think a deal will probably get done, but you just never know.”"

If Beal signs a deal with another team, the Wizards will have the right to match that deal as Beal is a restricted free agent. If that occurs, most likely the deal will be for the max, as teams have to overpay in free agency for players.

If that happens, it will put the onus on the Wizards to ask themselves a question; is Beal worth the max?

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There are many pros to signing Beal, including his age and skill set. Beal will be only 23 years old in June and he is already one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. He has a silky smooth jumper and can handle the ball and create off the dribble as well.

He also steps up his play when it matters most, as his postseason numbers blow away his regular season numbers.

In the postseason he averages 21.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, compared to 16 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game in the regular season.

The one negative to Beal’s game is his infatuation with mid-range jumpers and long 2s, but that is something a coach can change with their scheme. The biggest knock against Beal would be his durability, as he has played an average of 61.75 games through his first four NBA seasons.

But, that will not be enough to keep the Wizards from locking up Beal.

According to Castillo, the Wizards are expected to sign Beal to a max deal allowed under the current collective bargaining deal, saying, “Because the Wizards believe in his potential. More to the point, they don’t have a reasonable alternative.”

Retaining Beal is a no-brainer for the Wizards, as it maximizes their team’s potential. Allowing Beal to walk for nothing would make little sense, as the Wizards do not have a clear-cut way to replace his production.

Also, losing talent and making your roster worse is not a good recipe when trying to persuade other top players to join your team.

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Keeping Beal will make the Wizards better than letting him leave, and they should do whatever it takes to retain him. If that does indeed mean a max deal, Beal will receive a five-year deal worth roughly $124.2 million with the cap expected to rise to $92 million next season.

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Washington Wizards Rumors: Bradley Beal Will Receive The Max

By Kenneth Teape | May 31, 2016

In recent Washington Wizards rumors, it sounds like the team is willing to give shooting guard Bradley Beal a max contract this summer.