Bradley Beal is set to hit the free-agent market for the first time in his career after declining his player option for next season, per his agent.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has declined his $36.4M option and become a free agent, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Beal is eligible to sign a 5-year max to return to Wizards – or sign elsewhere on a 4-year deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022
Beal averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and a career-high 6.6 assists per game last season before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery in February. Beal is eligible to sign a five-year max if he decides to return to Washington. The three-time All-Star can sign to another team on a four-year deal otherwise.
Beal has said in the past that his free-agent plans will depend on whether he thinks the Wizards can be a winner while he’s there. He recently refuted reports that he planned on leaving.
However, During the regular-season, Beal embraced “holding the cards” and being able to dictate the tone of how his extension talks were going. He has historically remained mum on his decision and, as recently as two weeks ago, said he knew what he wanted to do while making an appearance at a court refurbishment in D.C. he helped fund.
