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.
When Lillard tore his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Milwaukee's eventual five-game first round playoff series loss to the Finals-bound Indiana Pacers, it became clear the 35-year-old vet would miss most or all of the 2025-26 season recuperating from the injury. That's just not going to work for the timeline for nine-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who's still very much in his prime and eager to advance out of the first round for the first time since 2022.
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.
Charania notes that Beal's agent at Priority Sports, Mark Bartelstein, had been looking into potential other destinations for the past several weeks, under the assumption that the 6-foot-4 pro would reach a buyout deal with the Suns.
According to Spotrac, Beal's remaining money will be paid out by Phoenix to the tune of $19.4 million annually across the next five seasons. Lillard, meanwhile, will earn $22.5 million from Milwaukee alone over the next five years.
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.
Missing out on Beal, while a bummer, is not the end of the world for Milwaukee. The team should really prioritize more of a distributor and playmaker. At this stage in his career, the former three-time All-Star is essentially more of a ball-stopping Gary Trent Jr., and the Bucks already have Trent rostered!
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