NBA free agency: Worst contracts of 2016

Jan 25, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) advances the ball as Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) advances the ball as Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Bradley Beal – Wizards (5 years, $128 million)

If you knew that Bradley Beal was going to play even just 80 of the 82 games in the next five seasons and not have any healthy problems, then you might finally feel comfortable having to give the 23-year-old wing a max contract. However, there’s virtually no chance that’s going to be the case given his recent history and that’s just reason No. 1 why his shiny new five-year, $128 million contract that has him re-signing with the Washington Wizards is absolutely insane.

Beal simply hasn’t been able to stay on the floor for the majority of his first four seasons in the league. Though he played 73 games in his second year, the Florida Gators product hasn’t played more than 65 in the other three and has failed to play 60 or more games twice. And these aren’t just fluke injuries that we’re talking about—instead, we’re talking about stress injuries that almost always have a way of coming back around or lingering.

There’s no denying the talent and potential of a healthy Bradley Beal, but I’m not sure he’s worth a half-decade-long and $128 million gamble on him staying healthy given his struggles of staying at that state. What makes it worse is the fact that he was a restricted free agent, so the Wizards could have set themselves up nicely by letting another team offer the four-year max and just matching it so they aren’t locked into the deal for five years.

But now here we are. The Wizards weren’t even given a meeting with Kevin Durant and overreacted by giving Beal this contract. There’s definitely not a worse look in NBA free agency to date.

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