As a part of our series detailing which players the Charlotte Hornets should target in NBA free agency, our attention shifts to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards finished with a 35-47 record, which earned them a 12th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
At the trade deadline, the Wiz brought in Kristaps Porzingis, who could be their big of the future. The potential pairing of Porzingis and Bradley Beal could be a solid one-two punch for several years to come. In an up-and-coming Eastern Conference, the Wizards will have pieces to make a playoff run or two in the upcoming seasons.
As the lone player option heading into the 2022 offseason, Beal holds the cards for the Wizards’ front office. If he opts in, he is banking on himself to have a bounce-back season after one of the worst seasons of his career. If he opts out, he is likely going to re-sign for a long-term deal with the Wizards. If he opts out and leaves, Washington is left in dire straits, and Charlotte is salivating at the prospect of acquiring a former All-Star player.