Add Bradley Beal’s name to the list of Washington Wizards who won’t be joining the team in Orlando…maybe.
Stephen A Smith might be right. Maybe the Washington Wizards shouldn’t go to Orlando. Especially if Bradley Beal does ultimately decide to sit out the final stretch of the season.
As of July 1, less than a month away from the first game of the NBA’s restarted season, Bradley Beal admitted he is not yet sure if he will play in Orlando.
On a Zoom availability, Bradley Beal says he has yet to make his decision about playing in Orlando when the NBA resumes.
— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) July 1, 2020
If Beal does decide to sit out, he’ll join a growing list of players that are sitting out either as a precaution against the added coronavirus risks presented by the bubble or as a necessity. More than a few players across the league have recently tested positive as team activities ramp up.
Bradley Beal is still unsure whether he’ll play with Washington Wizards in Orlando.
Most notably may be the Brooklyn Nets. One of the teams standing directly between the Wizards and the playoffs have had some players test positive – DeAndre Jordan and Spencer Dinwiddie – in addition to a slew of injured stars, including Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Wilson Chandler has opted out of the remaining games as a health precaution.
With the core of the Nets’ roster out, the door looks open for the Wizards to steal a playoff birth, but that’ll be nearly impossible without Bradley Beal. The team announced that Bertans will sit out, as will John Wall (unsurprisingly).
Add Beal to that list of absentees, and things look grim. I don’t like the Wizards’ chances against Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Boston if Rui Hachimura is all of a sudden the number one option on offense. No offense, Rui. Love ya.
Beal seems to have the support of his teammates and coaches, regardless of his decision. Thomas Bryant said he supports Beal, knowing he’ll do what’s right for “him and his family.” Bertans was also supported in his decision to skip the remainder of the season.
Thomas Bryant on Bertans opting out and Beal still deciding: "Either way, I support them 100 percent... Brad's going to do what is best for him and his family."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) July 1, 2020
To see the rest of the organization support their two biggest contributors’ decision to sit out during a crucial playoff push is a sign of two things.
One, just how serious the current pandemic situation is in the United States. Nobody is getting blamed for wanting to decrease exposure. No matter what’s at stake. Two, it shows that although the franchise would love a surprise playoff birth this focus, the focus remains (as it has been all season) on the 2020-21 campaign.
Ensuring Wall, Beal, and Bertans are all healthy, happy, and still in Washington next season will be essential to success. If that means having all three of them skip the bubble, so be it.