Bradley Beal's Top NBA Landing Spots Amid Suns Contract Buyout Rumors
Phoenix Suns veteran guard Bradley Beal reportedly could be hitting the open market soon.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Beal "is actively exploring his options with other teams in anticipation of" a contract buyout from the Suns. Once he becomes an unrestricted free agent, there will be "considerable interest" in the sharpshooter, Stein added.
Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports reported that Beal's buyout is "imminent," and he's likely to have $96.9 million of the $110.8 million remaining on his contract stretched over the next five years. That would allow the Suns to avoid going over both tax aprons.
Let's take a look at some of Beal's top landing spots ahead of his impending free agency.
Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat have been in the mix for some of the top free agents and trade candidates but have yet to land the big fish.
Stein and Jake Fischer even reported that the Heat engaged with the Suns in trade talks involving Beal before negotiations "ultimately collapsed." Now, they could get the chance to land him without giving up anything.
Miami has been interested in Beal dating back to his time with the Washington Wizards. The Heat pursued him this past season as they attempted to trade star forward Jimmy Butler, but Beal's massive contract halted that chase.
After shipping Butler to the Golden State Warriors, Miami has an opening on the wing between star guard Tyler Herro and star big man Bam Adebayo. Beal is still a dependable three-point shooter who could be a strong addition to Erik Spoelstra's offense.
Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 3
The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the most surprising moves of the offseason so far when they waived star point guard Damian Lillard, who is likely to miss the majority of the 2025-26 campaign due to a torn Achilles.
The top priority for the Bucks is to keep star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, so adding a veteran like Beal to the backcourt could help achieve that goal.
Milwaukee's current starting guards would be Kevin Porter and Gary Trent Jr., so Beal would be an obvious upgrade and help improve the team's depth. The Bucks have a strong frontcourt combination with Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma and the newly signed Myles Turner.
Adding Beal would give Milwaukee some much-needed balance on offense as the franchise tries to maximize Antetokounmpo's prime and return to title contention.
San Antonio Spurs
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Many were surprised to see the San Antonio Spurs included on the reported list of preferred trade destinations for Beal's former Suns teammate Kevin Durant, who was ultimately sent to the Houston Rockets in the first major move of the offseason.
However, Durant putting the Spurs in consideration is a strong indication of the team's bright future, which should be attractive for a veteran like Beal.
San Antonio has arguably the best crop of young talent, led by 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, 2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2025 No. 2 pick Dylan Harper. Joining the team would give Beal the chance to contribute while playing alongside a new generation of players.
While Beal could need a more experienced roster if her hopes to compete for his first NBA championship, there's enough promise within the Spurs to get him toward title contention sooner than expected.
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