NBA Free Agency: Top Bradley Beal Landing Spots After Potential Phoenix Suns Buyout

With Bradley Beal expected to hit the market, these are the top NBA destinations where the former All-Star could make an instant impact and help a contender chase a championship.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunderduring the first half at Footprint Center. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The desert heat might be cooling off for Bradley Beal. After the Phoenix Suns dealt Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster move, league chatter has quickly shifted to Beal, who’s now widely expected to be the next domino to fall. According to multiple reports, the Suns and Beal are progressing toward a buyout agreement that would put a sudden end to his massive five-year, $251 million contract—with two years still left on the deal.

Beal’s first full season in the Valley didn’t exactly live up to expectations. Injuries, inconsistency, and a midseason demotion to the bench painted a frustrating picture, and Phoenix’s failure to even reach the postseason didn’t help. Beal managed just 53 appearances in 2024-25—tied for the most games he’s played in any of the past four years, which says plenty. However, he still averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while converting 38.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc and a solid 49.7% of his field goal attempts. 

The veteran is still an elite scorer, and whether it’s in isolation or as a knockdown shooter, he brings a polished offensive toolkit to his game that any contender would covet. If he hits the market on a veteran minimum, he’ll be one of the best values available in NBA free agency. 

So, with the end of his Suns tenure seemingly on the horizon, let’s break down the three most intriguing landing spots for Beal to revive his career and chase a ring.

1. Milwaukee Bucks

After releasing Damian Lillard, the Bucks are in desperate need of backcourt help. Beal would be a great complement to a starting lineup currently featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and the recently acquired big man out of Indiana, Myles Turner. If the Bucks can bring in Beal, perhaps the whisper of a potential Greek Freak trade would die down. Giannis wants another run at a title and adding a sharpshooting guard to replace Dame Time would be a great step in that direction. 

Beal would immediately step in as the team’s secondary scorer behind Giannis. And although he’s not an elite playmaker, he can certainly handle primary ball-handling duties and take some of the pressure off of Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee would still need a true floor general but they could do far worse than Beal manning the point. With Giannis, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma already in the mix, this starting five would start to look like a top-tier unit in an Eastern Conference that is suddenly wide open following the injuries to Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. 

If bringing Beal in on a cheap contract prevents Giannis from skipping town, this is a must-make move for a Milwaukee franchise still searching for its identity after blowing up the roster that won the title in 2021.  

2. Los Angeles Clippers

After shipping out Norman Powell in a three-team deal that brought John Collins to town, the Clippers suddenly find themselves with an opening in the starting lineup—and Bradley Beal could be the perfect piece to plug in. Pairing him with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard would create a potent offensive trio, capable of lighting up the scoreboard on any given night. Sure, a Beal-Harden backcourt screams "defensive adventure," but with Kawhi, Ivica Zubac, and Brook Lopez anchoring things, L.A. might just have enough muscle to cover those perimeter gaps.

Financially, there’s no red tape holding this up, and Beal’s skill set fits seamlessly into the Clippers’ system. The hesitation lies more in philosophy than logistics—after years of juggling Kawhi’s injury timeline, do the Clippers really want to roll the dice on another high-talent, high-risk veteran? The front office may decide it’s time to shift gears and chase a younger, more durable star who can help shape the future instead of just extending the present.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

If the Lakers want to keep LeBron James in purple and gold for the final act of his legendary career, it’s time to shake things up and retool the roster with more depth and firepower. Sure, a core of LeBron, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves is nothing to scoff at—but getting bounced in five games by the Timberwolves proved that star power alone isn’t enough. While Bradley Beal’s skill set does overlap a bit with Luka and Reaves, let’s be honest: in today’s NBA, having too much offensive talent in the backcourt is a champagne problem.

Now picture all four—LeBron, Luka, Reaves, and Beal—sharing the floor. Defense and size might take a hit, but good luck finding a team that can match that level of scoring punch. Beal’s ability to knock down 40% of his threes would be a dream for LeBron, especially when the doubles come flying in and he needs a lethal shooter to kick it out to. If the Lakers want to keep the King on his throne a little longer, bringing in Beal could be just the move to make it happen.

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Regardless of where Beal lands, his fantasy basketball value will remain intact as a high-volume scorer, whether he’s in the starting lineup or coming off the bench. He was able to average in the high teens in a sixth man role in Phoenix so expect more of the same regardless of his eventual destination. 

With so much star power already loaded onto these rosters, plugging in a dynamic scorer like Beal could be the missing puzzle piece in a legitimate title chase. His recent stint in Phoenix may have cooled the hype, but let’s not forget that this guy is a three-time All-Star. Beal still has the talent to shift the balance of power if placed in the right situation.