Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Lakers Pursued Bradley Beal

The Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers pursued Bradley Beal, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.

Beal plans to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Phoenix Suns and Beal have agreed to a buyout agreement.

“Personnel across several other teams — including the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, sources said — pursued Bradley Beal and had extensive conversations with him and Mark Bartelstein in recent weeks,” Charania wrote.

“Beal is giving back $13.9 million out of the $110 million on the final two years of his contract to complete the buyout with the Suns, who will likely waive-and-stretch the remaining salary over five years, sources said.”

The Suns acquired Beal from the Washington Wizards in 2023. Beal played in 106 games with Phoenix. He averaged 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

A three-time All-Star, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Suns last season in 53 games. The 32-year-old shot 49.7% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

Despite having Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Phoenix missed the playoffs last season. Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets this month for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and six draft picks, while Booker signed a two-year, $145 million extension.

Beal has career averages of 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He was the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The Clippers are expected to start James Harden, Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins and Ivica Zubac next season. LAC lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games. The franchise has never been to the NBA Finals.

The Heat lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2025 postseason in four games, the Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round in five games, the Timberwolves lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals in five games and the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round in five games.