Fansided

15 NBA players certain to be overpaid in free agency

By Brad Rowland

Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Sleep Train Arena on March 30, 2016 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Sleep Train Arena on March 30, 2016 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

12. Bradley Beal

I totally “get it” with Bradley Beal.

Beal turns just 23 years old this summer.  Beal was a top-three pick in the NBA Draft. Beal is a career (!) 39.7% three-point shooter. Beal has two different seasons in which he averaged at least 17 points per game.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Because of the facts listed above, it isn’t difficult to find someone who assumes Bradley Beal is already an NBA star. The problem is that, well, he certainly is not that. At least not yet.

Beal holds a career PER of 14.3 and, according to Basketball-Reference, he has never produced a season in which the Wizards were better than their opponents when he was on the court. The 40% three-point clip is exceedingly nice, but Beal’s career 52.1% true shooting leaves plenty to be desired, and while he is just fine on the defensive end, there isn’t a ton of surplus value on that end of the floor.

Still, it is considered to be almost a formality that Beal will sign a maximum contract. One issue is that Washington holds Beal’s restricted free agent rights, meaning that it would be fairly crazy for the young shooting guard to sign a non-max offer sheet elsewhere. That, quite obviously, helps the Wizards in negotiations, but in the end, everyone assumes that Beal will get the max or very close to it.

He simply isn’t worth that.

It may happen for Bradley Beal at some point, but the ascension to All-Star status is more of a figment of our collective imagination than anything else. Well, unless you cite his next contract number as evidence.

Next: 11. Bismack Biyombo

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