Bradley Beal believes he is worth a maximum contract
By John Buhler
Bradley Beal isn’t overly concerned with his inability to stay healthy as he hits restricted free agency, and believes he is worth a maximum contract offer.
Over in Japan on a tour to promote the NBA, restricted free agent shooting guard Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards made it abundantly clear that he wants to sign a maximum contract offer during 2016 NBA free agency.
Beal told Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post, “I feel like a max player and that’s what I’m looking for. If Washington can’t meet the requirement then I may be thinking elsewhere.” Beal is optimistic that he and the Wizards organization will reach an agreement for a maximum offer when he hits free agency this summer, as “[Washington] is where [he wants] to be.”
From both a talent perspective and with the way that the NBA salary cap is poised to explode next summer, Beal is the type of player worthy of a maximum contract offer this summer. Someone will play Beal top dollar, but will it be the Wizards?
In four years with Washington, the 22-year-old shooting guard has never played a full 82 games in an NBA season. His career high in regular season games played came in 2013-14, when he started 73 games. However, in his other three professional seasons, Beal has not played in more than 63 games, including a career low of 55 in 2015-16.
In four years with the Wizards, Beal has averaged 16.0 points per game and has shot 39.7% from beyond the arc. He has made the NBA Playoffs twice, in 2014 and 2015, playing alongside All-Star point guard John Wall.
Washington would probably love to have him back in 2016-17 to play under new head coach Scott Brooks. The only question is whether a typically frugal Washington front office views Beal as a max player given his track record of getting hurt.
Washington has the ability to match any offer sheet in Beal’s restricted free agency, but don’t be surprised if he is playing elsewhere in 2016-17. Beal seems adamant about getting a maximum contract offer, even if it isn’t with Washington.
For more 2016 NBA free agency coverage, please check out our NBA free agency category page.