Wizards expected to try to extend Bradley Beal

It is anticipated that the Wizards will attempt to negotiate a new contract extension with All-Star guard Bradley Beal this offseason, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Hughes notes that, interestingly enough, this new extension could replace the current one. Beal signed that earlier two-year extension, worth nearly $72M, in 2019, but it is set to kick in during the 2021-22 season.

The Wizards will have until the fall to ink the 27-year-old to a fresh extension, the precise deadline for which has yet to be determined.

Hughes notes that, should the two parties opt to get a deal done this season, the maximum value of such an agreement would be a four-year, $181.5M deal. If Beal decides to wait until the 2022 offseason (he has an estimated $37.3M player option for the 2022-23 season), the new deal could balloon to a five-year, $235M contract. The heftier package would happen as a result of Beal having reached his tenth season of NBA play, and thus qualifying for a special super-max contract.

Beal enjoyed a stellar season in 2020-21, helping the Wizards return to their first playoffs since the 2017/2018 season. Across 60 regular season games, Beal averaged 31.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.4 APG, while sporting a shooting line of .485/.349/.889.

Beal and his similarly expensive new backcourt mate Russell Westbrook guided the Wizards to a 34-38 record in the East, and qualified for the playoffs by winning one of their two play-in games. Washington would go on to fall 4-1 to the top-seeded Sixers in the first round.