Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook Top Landing Spots After Beal to Clippers
One of the top remaining free agents is off the market after Bradley Beal reportedly agreed to a buyout with the Phoenix Suns and came to terms with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
But there are a number of notable guards still on the market, including Damian Lillard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.
So, where would it make the most sense for all three to land? Let's break it down.
Damian Lillard
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Lillard likely won't play in the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, so it might make the most sense for him to land with a team that isn't in immediate need of a difference-maker.
The Boston Celtics make a lot of sense in that regard. Jayson Tatum—who is reportedly recruiting Lillard—is also likely out for the entirety of the upcoming season with the same injury, and the Celtics already made cost-cutting moves to trade Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. They aren't necessarily punting on the season—they still have Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, after all—but it feels more like a layover campaign for them.
Granted, White's presence means that a point guard like Lillard isn't necessarily the most glaring need for 2026-27. But Lillard's buyout with the Bucks and current injury means he'll come cheaper than he normally might, giving the Celtics a chance to reload a season from now.
Signing with a team like the Celtics now would give Lillard access to team facilities and a medical staff for the next year. Waiting to see what the NBA landscape looks like in a year might be his best chance to find the right fit. It's an interesting decision to ponder. But if he's going to make a move now, Boston makes sense.
Chris Paul
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Would Paul consider returning to the Clippers on a veteran minimum contract?
The team has a major need for a backup point guard behind James Harden and has had an excellent offseason, adding Beal, John Collins and Brook Lopez. The Clippers may not be on quite the same level as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets or Houston Rockets, but they're pretty loaded.
Other possibilities are the Suns and perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers. But if the Clippers don't end up adding Malcolm Brogdon, Paul seems like a logical fit.
Russell Westbrook
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A reunion in Denver seems unlikely and the Clippers have been there and done that with Westbrook during the Kawhi Leonard era, so finding a fit for the veteran point guard is a bit trickier.
Let's think outside of the box.
The Detroit Pistons lost Dennis Schröder this offseason and have a need for a backup point guard. Westbrook would bring plenty of experience to a young, up-and-coming roster that reached the playoffs last season. In a backup role, he could be very valuable for the Pistons as they look to build on last season's impressive leap.
This is a fit that makes a lot of sense for both sides.
The Suns also have about a million shooting guards but no true point guards, so perhaps Westbrook could be in play in Phoenix. But Detroit probably offers him a better pathway to contention next season and beyond.
