Bradley Beal signed with the Clippers after a Suns buyout, passing on a potential fit with the Bucks. With Damian Lillard gone, Milwaukee now faces serious guard depth concerns.
Bucks Miss Out as Bradley Beal Heads to the Clippers
If you’re a Milwaukee Bucks fan, this one might sting a bit.
On Wednesday, Bradley Beal officially became a free agent after agreeing to a long-rumored buyout with the Phoenix Suns — and not long after that, he inked a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
That contract comes with a major sacrifice from Beal, too: he reportedly gave back $13.9 million from the $110 million he had left on his massive deal, originally signed with the Washington Wizards in 2022.
So why does this matter to the Bucks?
Because Milwaukee was watching the situation closely — and now they’re left still searching for backcourt answers.
Milwaukee’s Guard Situation Just Got Murky
Earlier this offseason, the Bucks waived Damian Lillard, who was dealing with a nagging Achilles injury. That move shocked fans, especially after Lillard was brought in as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s star sidekick just one season earlier.
With Dame gone and no top-tier guard added yet, Milwaukee’s depth at the position is paper-thin. That’s what made the Beal opportunity so intriguing. While he’s not the 30-points-per-night version of himself from Washington, he still has a lot in the tank.
Beal averaged 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over the past two seasons in Phoenix. That would’ve been plenty good next to Giannis, who needs a dynamic scoring guard to help carry the offensive load — especially in crunch time.
Why Beal Chose the Clippers Instead
Even though the fit in Milwaukee made sense, Beal opted to join a stacked Clippers roster featuring James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. He’ll likely slide into a third-option role, but with fewer expectations and more spacing — something that might suit his current game better.
Plus, at this stage of his career, it seems Beal is prioritizing title contention and comfort, even if that means less usage.
And let’s be honest — L.A. has its appeal.
Bucks Still Have Work to Do
Missing out on Beal means Milwaukee’s front office now has more pressure than ever to fill that glaring hole in the backcourt. With free agency thinning out, they may need to explore trades or veteran minimum deals to find another playmaker to pair with Giannis and Khris Middleton.
Because in the East, where teams like Boston and Indiana have reloaded, the Bucks can’t afford to fall behind — especially after an underwhelming finish to 2024.
Final Take: What Could’ve Been
Bradley Beal in Milwaukee would’ve made for a strong rebound after the Lillard drama. Instead, the Bucks watched a legit scoring option walk straight into the hands of a Western Conference contender.
Now, with no Lillard, no Beal, and no clear Plan B, Milwaukee’s margin for error is shrinking — fast.
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