Did Wizards missing out on top target lead to Bradley Beal surgery decision?

Bradley Beal just made a major decision for himself, and the timing of it all does not exactly seem coincidental.

Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday that the Washington Wizards star plans to undergo season-ending surgery on his left wrist. Beal tore the scaphonulate ligament in the wrist during a game against Memphis on Jan. 29.

Interestingly enough, the Wizards missed out on former All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis a few hours earlier. Sabonis was traded to a Western Conference team in a blockbuster move. The 25-year-old appeared to be a top target for Washington, and Beal had even been pushing for the team to get Sabonis.

The 24-29 Wizards are currently one game out of the play-in tournament zone and might have been able to make a second-half push with a player like Sabonis. With Sabonis now off the table though, Beal has made the decision to officially end his season.

Wojnarowski adds that Beal is still eligible to sign a five-year, $245 million contract with the Wizards this summer. But with the team missing out on Beal’s preferred trade target (on top of the speculation that already existed about Beal’s future), Wizards fans can’t be feeling too encouraged right now.

Photo: Jan 30, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) warms up before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports