Bradley Beal committed to the Washington Wizards, ending a months-long negotiation while keeping options to hit free agency in the near future on the table for the coveted All-Star guard.
ESPN first reported yesterday that Beal and the Wizards had a two-year, $72 million deal in place. The deal also includes a player option for 2022-23 that would prohibit Beal from hitting free agency for three more seasons and brings the total value of his contract to almost $130 million over the next four years.
However, there is incentive to decline the option for the 26-year-old. If Beal declines, he can re-sign with the Wizards for an NBA-record $266 million over five years.
In free agency, Beal, the third overall pick in 2012, would be able to sign for a maximum of four years, $198 million.
If traded during the course of the deal, Beal would receive a 15 percent trade kicker.
“Brad has always made it clear to me, that in a perfect world, he would never leave Washington,” agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN. “He has felt an obligation to be the focal point in turning the Wizards into an elite team. He’s thrilled about all the resources that (owner) Ted (Leonsis) is pouring into the franchise and thrilled how committed he and (GM) Tommy (Sheppard) are to building something special.”
Beal was named to the All-Star Game each of the past two seasons. He played all 164 regular-season games in that span and set career highs in scoring (25.6), assists (5.5), rebounds (5.0), steals (1.5) and minutes (league-high 36.9) in 2018-19.
Report: Brown turns down
Celtics’ 4-year, $80mn offer
Swingman Jaylen Brown is not interested in the four-year, $80 million extension he has received from the Boston Celtics, Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday.
Brown, who turns 23 next week, is heading into the final season of his contract, and he would be a restricted free agent next summer unless he comes to an agreement with the Celtics.
In the past week, multiple media outlets reported that Brown hired agent Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management to represent him. Brown had played three seasons in the NBA without an agent.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Cal, Brown made the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie Team when he averaged 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds over 78 games (20 starts). He greatly improved his averages in 2017-18 to 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 70 games, all starts. Last season, however, he started in just 25 of his 74 games and saw his numbers dip slightly to 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds.
The Celtics are coming off a 49-33 season after which they swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs before losing in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Boston’s biggest offseason change came at point guard, where Kyrie Irving exited to sign with the Brooklyn Nets while the Celtics acquired Kemba Walker in a sign-and-trade deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal.
