The Milwaukee Bucks are currently preparing to enter the 2025-26 NBA season with an unpredictable assortment of backcourt talent. The trio of Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Gary Trent Jr. will be trusted to not only provide quality contributions, but step up to match the level of play put forth by countless All-Star counterparts.
Perhaps that trio is more prepared than outsiders might presume, but if the Bucks are wise, they'd exhaust their resources in regard to signing Bradley Beal.
Beal has become a polarizing figure, due in no small part to his no-trade clause and $251 million contract. Between inconsistent availability and missing the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, he's struggled to live up to the expectations such a massive salary inevitably entails.
The path to the Bucks acquiring Beal could be far less costly than previously anticipated, however, as the three-time All-Star is exploring his options on the buyout market.
Bradley Beal is actively exploring his options with other teams in anticipation of a Suns buyout, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 7, 2025
There will be considerable interest in Beal once he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
More NBA from me earlier today: https://t.co/dUxPR8gyAU pic.twitter.com/Blp3L0qqpZ
Speculation instantly mounted that the Miami Heat could be interested in bringing Beal in after years of being linked to the All-NBA guard, but that hope was quickly extinguished with a shocking three-team trade that addressed the need for a scoring guard.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN:
BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/o0FkV0o2l8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025
In turn, the Bucks have received the most unlikely of lifelines to make the drastic improvements they need by signing Beal via the buyout market.
Buyout market, Heat trade open door for Bucks to land Bradley Beal
Beal is by no means a slam-dunk acquisition at this stage of his career, as availability and consistency are fair questions to raise. It must be noted, however, that he was one-third of a trio that never seemed to jell with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Beal wasn't the only member of the trio who struggled to remain healthy, which at least beckons the question of whether or not he was enabled to play at the highest level he's currently capable of reaching.
In Milwaukee, Beal would have a chance to prove he can still be a go-to perimeter scoring threat and a solid offensive No. 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged at least 30.4 points per game in each of the past three seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Myles Turner, meanwhile, is a high-level 3-and-D big with underrated pick-and-roll abilities, but he's also a No. 3 scoring option.
As such, Beal would have a clear and defined role alongside one of the best players in the NBA if he were to sign with the Bucks. That should appeal to the 32-year-old, especially if he signs a one-year deal after completing his buyout in hopes of landing a long-term contract in 2026.
If there's any way to prove to the NBA market that there's still something left in the tank, it'd be thriving alongside a former champion in Antetokounmpo.
As for the Bucks, Beal's decline has admittedly been exaggerated. His scoring numbers inevitably declined in Phoenix, but he still averaged 17.6 points on 40.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc while adding a commendable 4.3 assists per game during his two seasons with the franchise.
With a defined role and a true superstar alongside him, Beal could experience a career resurgence in Milwaukee—and Miami just cleared an unlikely path.