Washington Wizards' talented, young shooting guard Bradley Beal will miss roughly six weeks after suffering a broken wrist in a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, SportsInjuryAlert.com reported.
Beal will wear a soft cast for roughly 10 days and then begin to work out again. However, the full expected recovery time is 6-8 weeks.
Beal, 21, is one of the most promising young players in the league. Last season, he scored 17.1 points per game and had 3.3 assists. Beal also shot an impressive 40.2% from three-point range. During the Wizards' playoff run, Beal emerged as a viable playmaker and second ball handler behind star point guard John Wall. Beal's pairing with Wall developed into one of the most effective backcourts in the NBA last season.
Washington's off-season signing of Paul Pierce will help cushion the blow early on, as Pierce can work as a secondary facilitator and shot-maker. However, an extended absence from Beal would certainly hurt the Wizards' playoff chances, even in the depleted Eastern Conference.
The Wizards finished fifth in the East last season with a record of 44-38 and advanced to the Semi-Finals. The team's hope of building on their success this year is hampered by the news of Beal's injury.
