Wizards' Bradley Beal: 'I feel like I'm a max player'

Bradley Beal has emerged as one of the NBA's most dynamic shooting guards during his first four seasons with the Washington Wizards, but, as is too often the case, his on-court talent has been overshadowed by his inability to stay healthy.

That puts the 22-year old and the team in a dilemma. As he is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, the question becomes: Is he deserving of a max contract?

Beal, who has played in around 75% of his games since being selected with the third overall pick out of the University of Florida, certainly seems to think so.

“I want to be valued the right way,” Beal told The Washington Post. “I feel like I’m a max player and that’s what I’m looking for. If Washington can’t meet that requirement then I may be thinking elsewhere. I’m pretty sure that they probably won’t (let me go). At the end of the day, (Washington is) where I want to be. I think a deal will probably get done but you just never know.”

The Wizards' season ended in disappointment at 41-41, with Beal injured for 27 of those contests. Will they continue to look at Beal and All-Star point guard John Wall as franchise cornerstones?

According to Beal, his injury history will be just that — history.

" ... (The injuries don't) define me as a player,” Beal told the Post. “That won’t stop me from growing as a player and it won’t stop me from being who I am. The injury thing, that’s behind me. I’m moving forward. I’m past it. I’m focused on my career from here on out. Hell, Steph Curry was hurt his first four years. Look at him now. John (Wall) was hurt his first three or four years. Look at him now. I’m not worried about it. People are going to say what they want to say. At the end of the day, it’s not going to affect me or the money.”

While there will be no shortage of teams willing to pay top dollar for Beal's services, the Wizards have the upper hand, because, as owners of his Bird rights, they're able to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. They can also match any deal that's thrown Beal's way within a 72-hour timeframe.

The only question is: Will they?

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