NBA Hoops

All eyes on Bradley Beal as big offseason begins for Wizards

All eyes on Bradley Beal as big offseason begins for Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) — A few weeks after the surgery that ultimately ended his season, Bradley Beal was talking with reporters when he was asked a simple question: Was it fair to say he was leaning toward re-signing with Washington?

“It’s fair,” Beal said in early March, without offering any more assurance than that.

Now the Wizards embark on a massive offseason, and all eyes are on Beal, who can become a free agent this summer. His next move will obviously have a big impact on the franchise’s direction.

Beal had surgery in February on his left wrist and didn’t play again. A Washington team that started fast under new coach Wes Unseld Jr. ended up going 35-47 and missing the playoffs.

Washington began the season by winning 10 of its first 13 games. The trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers was paying dividends, with Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell all contributing after coming to Washington in that deal.

By the time Beal went down, however, the Wizards were already slipping. That injury certainly didn’t help their prospects, and they ended up making more significant moves at the deadline. Spencer Dinwiddie, who was acquired to play point guard before the season, was dealt to Dallas in a deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Washington. The Wizards also traded Harrell.

The 7-foot-3 Porzingis played well for Washington, averaging 22.1 points in 17 games for the Wizards. He never got to play alongside Beal, and the question now is whether he’ll have that chance next season.

“Slowly, we’re kind of figuring each other out, especially my teammates with me, because I just got here,” Porzingis said late this season. “I think we’re still pretty far away from where we want to be, in terms of chemistry and stuff like that, but it’s not bad for this short a period of time. It’s pretty good. I’m excited to see what’s ahead of us.”

AT THE POINT

The point guard spot has often been a strength for…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at AP NBA…