Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bucks could face competition to acquire Bradley Beal

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 1:44 PM ET

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday morning that the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat have swung a three-team trade.

The Milwaukee Bucks were not involved, per se, but the transaction could certainly affect them.

The chief pieces exchanged in the deal are Utah’s John Collins, who goes to the Clippers in exchange for a 2027 second-rounder, plus Norman Powell, who ends up in Miami. The Heat sent out veteran Kevin Love alongside Kyle Anderson. By bringing in a shooting guard like Powell, they may have bowed out of the Bradley Beal sweepstakes, making one less competitor for the Bucks. Unfortunately, a new team just took Miami’s place.

Milwaukee Bucks Might Not Be Any Freer To Land Beal in Post-Trade Fallout

Even after re-signing Ryan Rollins, the Bucks remain very much in play for Beal. Primarily a three-and-D guard with potential to grow, Rollins has a much different skill set. Milwaukee would welcome Beal’s scoring volume. Off the bench or in the starting lineup, he could slide into a combo guard role to take pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo and help run the second unit.

Before the trade, Miami was one of Beal’s rumored potential landing spots, pending the resolution of his buyout talks with the Suns. At this point, an exit from Phoenix seems all but inevitable.

After acquiring Powell, however, the Heat no longer have a clear spot for Beal on the roster. In Los Angeles last season, Powell averaged 21.8 points while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent on threes. He occupies the role Beal would have as an efficient bucket-getter in the backcourt.

Assuming a buyout happens, the latter should have a robust market of suitors. In Milwaukee, he would instantly become the No. 2 option behind Giannis, even as a reserve.

The bad news for the Bucks is that Powell’s departure from the Clippers means that they now have an opening at shooting guard themselves. Indeed, the notion of a Beal to Los Angeles scenario is gaining credence among those who closely follow the league. Per senior NBA reporter Tim Bontemps of ESPN:

We’ll see where all the chips fall, but Bradley Beal to the Clippers after being bought out by the Suns feels like a natural way for things to play out.

John Collins and Brook Lopez are a couple of really strong additions for LAC this offseason.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 7, 2025

After shipping Powell, the Clippers backcourt is rather sparse. Beal would slide neatly alongside James Harden in the starting five or backing him up in the second unit. A lineup of Beal, Harden, Collins, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac is legitimately scary. Health, particularly for Beal and Leonard, would be the biggest barrier to success.

The Bucks don’t have to land Beal, but if he goes elsewhere, they should stay on the lookout for secondary scorers.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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