Wizards star Bradley Beal is in no hurry to sign another extension with the team, saying on the “Posted Up with Chris Haynes” podcast that he wants to be in charge of his future.
Beal received a maximum extension offer in October that would pay him $181.3MM over four seasons. However, he’s not under a deadline and could accept the offer at any time during the 2021/22 season. Most likely, he will opt for free agency after the season, making him eligible to sign for $241.6MM over five years with Washington or $179.1MM over four years with another team, assuming a $119MM salary cap.
“I got time, so I kinda hold the cards right now,” Beal told Haynes. “And one, I’ve never been in this position. I’m kinda embracing that, being able to kinda dictate how I want my future to be and where I want it to be. And at the same time, I’m not gonna make that grand commitment and it doesn’t work. Ultimately, you have to be selfish at some point and for probably the first time in my career, Year 10, I am. And so I’m kinda taking advantage of it in a way.
“Obviously, my full commitment is to the team. I want it to work. I’ve contributed to being here. I’ve committed to being here twice. Now, I want to see that commitment to me, as well, that we can create a winning team here, a winning environment here. And granted, I’m a part of that, so I gotta make sure that I’m stepping up and doing my thing, too, just as well.”
Beal is in his 10th year with the Wizards and has remained loyal to the organization despite limited playoff success during that time. He has agreed to a pair of extensions, with the most recent coming in 2019 and adding two years to his contract. He is reportedly happy with the changes the organization made during the offseason, but wants to see more before making a long-term commitment.
Beal also discussed the new-look roster with Haynes and said he understood Russell Westbrook‘s desire to return home and play for the Lakers.
“I was happy for Russ because he wanted to, like, I am always happy for a player that they do what they want to do and what’s best for their family,” Beal said. “… But my initial thing was, ‘OK, if I’m going to be here, what are we getting back?’ That was my first thought. It wasn’t like, OK, I’m outta here, too. Which it could’ve been, it could’ve very well been. … What are his options that he wants to go to, or what teams are looking to offer us the best package?”
“You have a guy in Year 13 in Russ who wants to win now. He wants to win now. He wants things done now. … Which is why I ultimately see and respected Russ for his decision. But when it came back, it’s like, OK I see the pieces we have, we can make this work. You turn one guy into five guys. Five useful guys.”