Milwaukee has whiffed on inking an All-Star free agent to replace some of Damian Lillard's scoring wizardry.
The Milwaukee Bucks have whiffed on inking a free agent All-Star guard to replace some of nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard's scoring wizardry.
After stretching-and-waiving the Weber State product to sign Myles Turner, Milwaukee has been linked to former multi-time All-Star guards Chris Paul and Bradley Beal — who still had two seasons left on his maximum contract with the Phoenix Suns, but had been rumored to be seeking a buyout to join a contender on a fairer price— as it looks to shore up its backcourt this summer.
Ex-Bucks Rookie of the Year combo guard Malcolm Brogdon is another solid free agent veteran who could hold some appeal to Milwaukee, although like Beal he has a prolonged injury history. Paul, now 40, somehow played all 82 regular season games for the San Antonio Spurs last season.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN, Beal has opted to explore greener pastures, signing with the L.A. Clippers.
This now gives the Suns increased team-building flexibility by taking them out of the first and second aprons, providing access to more tradeable draft picks in the future, and opening up part of the mid-level exception to utilize. https://t.co/UN1dVwbHfM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2025
Beal intends to ink a two-season, $11 million contract with L.A. after he officially clears waivers. He'll have a player option for 2026-27.
Paul and Brogdon remain very available. Surprisingly, the Bucks are also rumored to be considering another former multi-time All-Star, free agent Boston Celtics big man Al Horford, to bolster its frontcourt depth. What a Horford addition means for the fate of Bobby Portis — who recently negotiated a new three-season, $43.6 million deal with the Bucks — remains to be seen, although it would make him presumably expendable via trade at this year's deadline.
As Charania notes, the Beal buyout will allow the rebuilding Suns to dip below both the league's punitive first and second luxury tax aprons. The team will now be able to use part of its mid-level exception to sign a new player, should it so choose.
More to come...
Category: Basketball
