The season is over for the Phoenix Suns and the future has never been more uncertain for veteran shooting guard Bradley Beal. Despite his active no-trade clause, the Suns are expected to buy out his contract this summer and four NBA teams will show interest.
“I spoke with somebody in the NBA last night and I said let’s talk about where he’s gonna go. He said ‘Miami, Denver, Golden State, possibly San Antonio.’ This is somebody that’s in the know and that’s what he said to me,” said John Gambadoro on the Burns & Gambo Show. “Miami and Denver are two teams that he could go to if there was ever a buyout. Keep your eye out on Golden State and maybe the Spurs depending on the next coach.”
Beal, 31, is officially on buyout watch as the NBA regular season draws to a close. After 11 years with the Washington Wizards, where he was voted as an All-Star three times, he finally conceded on a fresh start in Phoenix and it’s where he’s been ever since.
Unfortunately for Beal, his tenure with the Suns has been disastrous since his arrival. Team owner Mat Ishbia gave up the last of their assets to trade for him in 2023 but he’s been hardly available with 58 missed games combined over the last two seasons. When healthy, his play has been lackluster on the court with averages of 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 50.5% shooting.
The Suns are down to 11th in the West this season at 36-45 and it’s going to be remembered as another colossal failure for a team with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. In the eyes of Suns GM James Jones, breaking up the roster is the only way to get better and it’s why serious changes are expected for the organization in the weeks and months to come.
According to the latest intel, nobody but Booker is untouchable and that includes 2x NBA champion Kevin Durant. With a no-trade clause, the situation is much more complicated for Bradley Beal but they could buy out his contract as a last resort.
As a free agent, Beal could be re-signed to a team-friendly deal with no restrictions, and at least four teams are rumored to be interested. In the wake of Jimmy Butler’s exit, the Miami Heat are the strongest suitors for Beal and there is a strong belief that head coach Erik Spoelstra could bring the best out of him and return the Heat to contention with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
The Denver Nuggets are doing pretty well at fourth in the West but they are in a state of chaos after firing their coach and GM on the same day. If they fail to get it done this season, the Nuggets could take a drastic step and make a move for Beal to create a versatile backcourt pairing with Jamal Murray.
In Golden State, Beal would play second-fiddle to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler but his shooting on the perimeter would bring a similar dynamic to the one they had with Curry and Klay Thompson back in the mid 2010s. They don’t have a whole lot to offer but if the Warriors are willing to part with Jonathan Kuminga (among others), there may be a path to acquiring Beal.
Finally, there’s the Spurs. As a team built for the future, they are still looking for that final piece to fill out their championship core. With De’Aaron Fox running point, Beal could be the perfect fit to stretch the floor and add some offensive firepower to the starting lineup. At the very least, he can take some pressure off Victor Wembanyama and serve as a closer down the stretch.
At this point, anything is possible for Beal, and the whole NBA community will be tracking his movements this summer because where he ends up may just have major implications on the 2026 NBA title race.
