Bradley Beal heading back to Washington Wizards as NBA free agency opens, agent says

All-Star guard Bradley Beal has agreed to a five-year, $251 million maximum contract to stay with the Washington Wizards, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tells ESPN as NBA free agency opened Thursday.

Beal, who has played his entire 10-year career with the Wizards, has now committed himself to the franchise for the duration of his prime.

Beal, who turned 29 earlier this week, averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 40 games for Washington last season before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery in February. That season was preceded by Beal averaging at least 30 points per game — including 31.3 points per game across 60 games during the 2020-21 season.

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The No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Beal is in the top five in a host of all-time statistical categories for the Wizards — including making, and attempting, the most 3-pointers in team history. Now, he'll get a chance to take aim at virtually every statistical mark the franchise has to offer.

Washington hopes those milestones will be accompanied by victories. The Wizards, after making the Eastern Conference semifinals three out of four years earlier in Beal's career, have reached the postseason just once in the past four years, when Washington exited in five games against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Last year, with Beal sidelined for half the season, the Wizards finished in 12th place in the