Beal says little about free agency but wrist progressing
In a couple weeks, Bradley Beal’s future might look a lot clearer.
At this point, the Washington star isn’t tipping his hand.
When asked Saturday about how he expects the start of free agency to go, he replied: “Crazy probably — like it always is.”
When asked how he expects his own contract situation to play out, his response was the same: “My situation? Crazy probably.”
The Wizards’ offseason hinges on what Beal ultimately does. With a player option next season, he can become a free agent, and although he indicated earlier this year he was leaning toward re-signing with Washington, there are certainly other teams that would gladly have him.
That was made clear when
Beal was asked how many people have tried to recruit him to their teams.
“A lot,” he said. “You know I can’t give you names.”
Beal was at a ribbon-cutting event Saturday for the Benjamin Banneker basketball court refurbishment project in Washington. Beal, who won the 2018-19 NBA Cares Community Assist Award, told the youngsters in attendance he wanted the courts to be something the community could enjoy.
“When I first started playing, when I was you guys’ size, this is where I started,” he said. “We were outside playing from sunup to sundown.”
Later, when talking to reporters, Beal was asked what his presence at the event said about his commitment to being in Washington.
“I don’t intertwine the two,” he said. “It’s love that I’ve received from day one.
The city has accepted me since a rookie, and here I am going into year 11, and it’s the same love, if not more. I’ve always just tried to pay that back in one way or another.”
Beal, who turns 29 later this month, has played his whole career with Washington, averaging at least 22 points per game in each of the past six seasons. That included a career-high average of 31.3 points in 2020-21.
AP sources: Atkinson decides not to coach Charlotte Hornets
SAN FRANCISCO » The Charlotte Hornets will have to begin their search again for a head coach because Kenny Atkinson changed his mind and will stay with the NBA champion Warriors after all.
Two people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday that Atkinson will remain with Golden State as an assistant coach and won’t become the new coach of the Hornets.
Both spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither Atkinson nor the Hornets revealed any details of the talks or agreement publicly. Warriors coach
Steve Kerr said he wouldn’t discuss it until the Hornets announced Atkinson’s hiring.
The move comes more than a week after Atkinson had agreed to a four-year contract. But the contract was never signed, one of the people said.
ESPN first reported that Atkinson had decided not to take the Charlotte job. His decision means Charlotte joins Utah as the lone NBA teams without coaches in place.
The Hornets have three picks, including two in the top 15, of Thursday’s draft and Charlotte may have to make the No. 13, No. 15 and
No. 45 selections without a coach in place.
Golden State’s players had exit interviews Saturday ahead of the championship parade Monday, and were thrilled Atkinson had decided to help the Warriors try to chase another championship after Thursday’s Game 6 clincher at Boston.
“That means a lot,” forward Andrew Wiggins said. “He gave up a head coaching job to come back.”
Atkinson was 118-190 in three-plus seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets when that franchise was undergoing a rebuilding process. He has spent the last
two seasons as an assistant, first for the Los Angeles Clippers and now the Warriors.
“We knew the amazing job Kenny did when he was in Brooklyn. That doesn’t get talked about enough,” Golden State guard Jordan Poole said. “For him to be able to bring all of the knowledge and the insight and the positive emotion and militaristic drive that he has, to already add that to a winning culture is amazing. And we got a ring because of that . ... He obviously is extremely invested and believes we can do it again. You want guys like that and people like that.”