The Golden State Warriors could add another former All-Star to their veteran core, provided they salary dump Jonathan Kuminga.
Fred Katz of The Athletic reported on July 7 that the Warriors landed on Bradley Beal‘s short list of preferred landing spots after the expected buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
“According to a league source, the list of teams Beal has thought about includes the LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks,” Katz wrote.
The Suns and Beal are in serious discussions about buying out the remaining $110.8 million over the next two years on the three-time All-Star’s contract.
There is an increasing optimism that the two sides will agree to terms on a buyout, according to Katz, citing league sources. Katz added that Beal has to give back at least $13.8 million to allow the Suns to waive and stretch him.
Beal, 32, will be a bargain for a team that will sign him as an unrestricted free agent. The veteran guard still averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 50/39/80 shooting splits last season for the Suns despite his clunky fit next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
A Complicated Warriors’ Path to Adding Bradley Beal
Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a three-point shot over Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns.
Usually, the money that a player surrenders in a buyout is what he will get from his next team. The Warriors could have the most money among Beal’s preferred teams. But they have to sign-and-trade Kuminga without taking back any money so they can gain access to the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
They can also offer Beal to start next to Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ backcourt with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green flanking them. And if Al Horford joins them, as multiple reports suggest, then that will be a star-studded starting five, though it would be the oldest in the league with Beal the youngest at 32.
The Lakers could only offer their $5.1 million bi-annual exception. Plus, their starting backcourt is already set with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers’ crosstown rivals Clippers can offer more: a $5.3 million starting salary (what’s left of their $14.1 million midlevel exception after signing Brook Lopez, per Katz) in 2025-26 and a starting role after they traded Norman Powell to the Miami Heat in a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz earlier.
The Bucks have the least to offer Beal as they are limited to giving him the veteran’s minimum after using all of their exceptions.
Warriors Not Looking to Salary Dump Jonathan Kuminga
Getty Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors reacts after drawing his sixth foul.
Despite the Beal buzz, the Warriors are not looking to just give up Kuminga for nothing.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors have been seeking “a promising young player, plus a first-round pick” in a sign-and-trade scenario for the 22-year-old athletic forward.
That was crystalized when they rejected the Sacramento Kings‘ offer.
“They’ve drawn inbound calls in recent days, most notably from the Sacramento Kings, who floated an offer of Devin Carter, Dario Šarić and two second-round picks, league sources said. The Warriors have so far balked at what they felt was a buy-low attempt, league sources said,” Slater wrote.
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