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Bradley Beal has declined his $36.4 million player option and has become a free agent, on Wednesday.
, who has spent all 10 of his NBA seasons in Washington, can now sign a five-year max contract with the Wizards worth nearly $250 million. Should he decide to leave Washington, he can sign a four-year deal worth about $184 million.
The three-time All-Star for a max contract that will pay him for five more NBA seasons, at which point Beal will be 33 years old.
Before his 2021-22 season ended prematurely due to injury, Beal averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Earlier on Wednesday, , while sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith to the Nuggets. Morris will help the team’s point guard situation, and Barton will come as a solid 3-point shooter on the wing.
The Wizards’ first, and expected, domino of the offseason has now fallen. What happens next will shape the franchise for years to come.