The Washington Wizards have just been handed a massive blow in their attempts to secure a playoff appearance. Their star guard Bradley Beal needs to undergo surgery on his left wrist, and the procedure will sideline him for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Beal suffered the injury in a 115-95 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in late January and hasn’t played since. The Wizards hoped an extended rehab would help him deal with the issue, but further tests showed he has a torn scapholunate ligament and needs the surgery.
Beal has struggled so far in 2021-22 and hasn’t been able to replicate his All-Star form from the previous seasons. He has averaged 23.2 points, his lowest since 2017, while also shooting a career-worst 30.0 percent from the three-point line. On the other hand, his playmaking ability improved, and he has been dishing 6.6 assists per contest as a result.
“I’m disappointed to have my season end this way, but we all agreed that this was the best decision,” said Beal in a statement. “I look forward to coming back at 100% and continuing to lead this team as we work together to build toward the future.”
It remains to be seen what kind of effect the injury will have on Bradley Beal’s future with the franchise. He is currently in the last year of his deal and holds a $36.4 million player option for 2022-23. However, Beal is expected to decline it in order to hit the free agency market. After that, he could return to Washington on a deal worth up to $245 million or head somewhere else for less money but have a bigger chance of winning a title.
The Washington Wizards were one of the more pleasant surprises in early 2021-22, starting with a 10-4 record. Since, however, the Wizards have been in free fall and are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference at 24-29.
