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If you thought there would be any tension or drama between Bradley Beal and the Wizards trying to work out a new deal, well, you’d be wrong.
Bradley Beal nearing five-year, $128 million deal with Wizards. @WojVerticalNBA report on @TheVertical. https://t.co/epWlJcfSRF
— The Vertical (@TheVertical) July 1, 2016
Agreement on framework would allow Wizards to pursue other free agents with existing cap space, then officially re-sign Beal.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2016
Like DA says: All signs point to the Wizards being prepared to come to a verbal agreement with Bradley Beal on a five-year max and THEN ...
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2016
And then the Wiz can go out and try to make a deal with an Al Horford or a Ryan Anderson or a Nic Batum before making Beal's deal official.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2016
Sources say Washington and Bradley Beal have swiftly moved into contract talks and could have deal terms verbally agreed as soon as this AM
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2016
The news should not come as a surprise. Last month, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reported the Wizards were set on offering Beal a full max deal to keep him off the free agent market, and that’s exactly what’s happening. It was the only way to ensure the Wizards would be able to ensure they retained Beal and maximized their cap space for this summer.
Now, the only question that remains is will the Wizards be able to add any special clauses into Beal’s contract to lower the amount of fully guaranteed money. You may recall when the Wizards signed Martell Webster in 2013, they included a clause that he needed to play in 180 games in his first three seasons to fully guarantee the final year of his deal. Perhaps there’s a chance the Wizards will be able to work something out where Beal still gets more guaranteed money than he could get elsewhere, but provide a little bit of protection in case he can’t shake the injury bug.
Either way, Bradley Beal’s going to be a very, very happy and very rich man in the coming days.
UPDATE: It looks like there won’t be any options on Beal’s deal. This is what happens when you have leverage, folks.
Can confirm @WojVerticalNBA's report on Wiz/Beal progressing on five-year max with no options. Was always the most likely outcome.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 1, 2016
UPDATE #2: The deal appears to be done, except for the signing part, which will come once the Wizards are done spending:
Wizards deal with Brad Beal is done, sources told ESPN. Worth about 130 million over 5 years.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) July 1, 2016
Bradley Beal has agreed to a five-year, $128M-plus max contract to stay with the Wizards, agent Mark Bartelstein tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 1, 2016
Can confirm reports that Beal's contract with the Wizards is officially done. Five year max. Won't be signed until cap space is used.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 1, 2016