Bucks, Clippers Among Best Fits For Suns Star Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal‘s hours in the desert appear numbered. In the wake of the Phoenix Suns trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, numerous reports have indicated that Beal and the franchise are nearing a buyout, with the three-time All-Star having two seasons remaining on a five-year, $251 million deal.

Beal is coming off a discouraging season. He was moved to the bench midseason in a campaign that saw the Suns miss the playoffs and Beal appear in just 53 games; the 53-game mark is tied for the most games that Beal has appeared in across a single season in each of the last four seasons. 

At the same time, the 33-year-old remains a bucket-getter. He can play in isolation, score off the dribble and still be an at least tertiary source of offense for a contending team. Plus, signing Beal for a near-league minimum deal is an appealing, low-risk-high-reward option for any team.

And with that, here are the three best destinations for Beal if and when he’s bought out by the Suns.

The Grizzlies were swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Memphis traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for, most notably, four unprotected first-round picks. An opening now exists in its wing rotation, which is where Beal comes into play.

Beal could either start next to Ja Morant, giving the Grizzlies a vibrant offensive backcourt with two aggressive scorers, or be the team’s leading scorer off the bench as their sixth man. Either scenario gives the Grizzlies somebody who helps fill the offensive production that Bane’s departure vacates.

From the Grizzlies’ perspective, part of the rationale behind trading Bane was so they could extend star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. (five-year, $240 million deal), have the financial flexibility to re-sign Santi Aldama (three-year, $52.5 million deal) and bring in former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (three-year, $28 million deal). Memphis bringing in Beal would continue to build depth and load up a proven roster in a stacked Western Conference.

All that said, the Grizzlies may feel that having the combination of Jerome, Jaylen Wells and Scotty Pippen Jr., among others, gives them the backcourt depth that’s needed and any of those players making a jump would fill the role that Beal would likely serve, anyway: being a starting-caliber scorer off the bench.

James Harden and the Clippers agreed to a two-year, $81.5 million deal. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

He could’ve come off the bench before the move, but with the Clippers trading Norman Powell – who averaged a career-high 21.8 points per game last season – in a three-team trade earlier this week, Beal can slide right into his place in head coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation.

The Clippers were one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals last season. Kawhi Leonard is 34. James Harden will be 36 when the 2025-26 NBA season begins. Of course, both players are still high-impact players, as Leonard remains an electric scorer and two-way demon and Harden is one of the best ball-handlers and shooters in the sport. Beal would give the Clippers another viable scoring option and is a tremendous replacement for Powell, who’s an attacking scorer.

As part of the aforementioned three-team trade, the Clippers acquired forward John Collins, a bouncy player who hits the boards at a high level and can score in a variety of ways. Essentially going from Powell to both Collins and Beal would be a win value-wise for LA and fits the franchise’s win-now mentality.

The finances aren’t an issue and neither is Beal’s potential fit with the Clippers. What could stop the two sides from joining forces, though, is the Clippers feeling that an impactful move should come in the form of somebody who’s in or just entering their prime, as opposed to somebody in Beal’s position, who has been held back by injuries like Leonard and could continue the negative health trend for LA, rather than buck it. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 12-year NBA career with the Bucks. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The Bucks are a mess. They were just bounced out of the playoffs in Round 1 for a third consecutive year, waived star point guard Damian Lillard after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the postseason, signed former Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal, and the NBA world remains on standby for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade request. But that alarm still has not been sounded, so the Bucks remain a team in the hunt, and Beal fits the bill for their operation.

With Lillard officially gone, the Bucks have an enormous scoring void to fill. Turner gives them perimeter shooting and interior defense, but Beal would give the Bucks needed isolation scoring and — when available — is the most proven scorer on the open market.

Beal, who would immediately be Milwaukee’s No. 2 scorer, is somebody who can handle the rock and take the ball out of Antetokounmpo’s hands, avoiding a situation where the latter has to play hero ball for the majority of next season. Plus, with Beal’s well-rounded offensive skill set in the fold, the Bucks’ starting five begins to take shape as a legitimate unit to build with, which also includes the uber-confident Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis.

There’s zero risk in a short-term deal with Beal from Milwaukee’s standpoint. Worst-case scenario, the Bucks have another quick playoff exit, Antetokounmpo requests a trade, and they lose Beal to free agency. All they’d be investing in Beal is a low-level contract.

The Bucks need an impact scorer, and Beal would probably revel in the chance to be a primary scoring option once again. Beal and the Bucks need each other.

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