The Los Angeles Lakers could add more firepower for next season as they landed on Bradley Beal‘s short list of preferred landing spots after the expected buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
Fred Katz of The Athletic reported on July 7 that the Lakers are one of the four teams on Bradley’s list.
“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.
Getty Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns is considering joining the Los Angeles Lakers after his buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
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.
How the Lakers Stack up Against the Rest of Bradley Beal’s Preferred Teams
Usually, the money that a player surrenders in a buyout is what he will get from his next team. But the Lakers could only offer their $5.1 million bi-annual exception. Plus, the Lakers starting backcourt is already set with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Their 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 Warriors can offer more than what Beal is expected to lose in a buyout, granted they sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga in a salary dump move to gain access to the $14.1 million MLE, according to Katz. Beal can start next to Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ backcourt with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green flanking them and whoever will be their starting center.
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.
A Bradley Beal Move Will Boost Lakers But Complicate Austin Reaves’ Situation
Getty Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball against Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.
If the Lakers win the Beal sweepstakes, it will be a massive coup for team president Rob Pelinka, who has added former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to become their starting center.
“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” said Pelinka, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“Deandre’s size, mobility and athleticism will allow both paint scoring and paint protection. Deandre’s playoff experience as a starter on an NBA Finals team also aligns well with our ultimate Lakers championship aspirations.”
A three-guard lineup of Doncic, Beal and Reaves with James and Ayton will be interesting. But that lacks size and perimeter defense. Someone has to give and it will not be Doncic if push comes to shove, that means either one of Beal or Reaves comes off the bench.
If that happens, it will be a tricky situation for the Lakers to navigate, especially with Reaves set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
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