It's Official: Bradley Beal OPTS OUT And Becomes Free Agent

In a move that many have speculated on for months, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has declined his $36.4M option, becoming an unrestricted free agent. 

Wizards G Bradley Beal has declined his $36.4M option and is now a free agent, per @wojespn.

The Wizards star can sign a 5-year max to return to Washington or sign elsewhere on a 4-year deal 👀 pic.twitter.com/qjMJYPnAqC

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 29, 2022

Beal is now free to sign with any team, on a 4-year deal, but Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Beal will re-sign a 5-year max contract for about $248M to return to the Wizards. Yes, a quarter of a BILLION dollars.

That deal would take him through his age-33 season. 

The three-time All-Star has really been torn, as he has said he wants to play on a winner, while at the same time repeatedly stating his loyalty to the Wizards. But in today's NBA, the trend has been for players in such situations to take the max contract from their incumbent team, then ask for a trade a year or two down the line. That could very well be the route Beal is taking, unless the Wiz can somehow assemble a contending team around him. 

In the meantime, Beal will line up this season with Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma, and his newest backcourt mate, Monte Morris, acquired in a trade earlier in the day.

Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports