Bucks Dealt Concerning News on Stars on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Milwaukee Bucks have made a few smart moves this NBA offseason, bringing in veteran Gary Harris and letting go of long-time guard Pat Connaughton. But as the rest of the West continues to make big swings, Milwaukee might be quietly losing ground. With cap space tight and only a few roster spots left, the Bucks are watching from the sidelines while contenders like the Clippers and Nuggets chase big names like Bradley Beal.
Advertisement
According to John Gambadoro, Beal is “weighing his options” and will be officially bought out by the Phoenix Suns after he picks his next team. And right now, the Los Angeles Clippers seem to be the frontrunners.
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half at Footprint CenterMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
They’ve opened up $8.9 million under their first apron and still have $5.3 million left from their non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That’s enough to make room for Beal and potentially bring back Chris Paul, a major shakeup for the West.
Denver was also reportedly linked to Beal, as noted by Jeff Garcia of KEN 5. The Nuggets have already added Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas (though he may sign overseas), but were looking at Beal as a possible scoring boost off the bench.
Advertisement
If Beal picks the Clippers, the Bucks may find themselves outpaced in the arms race. Stein Line’s Jake Fischer had earlier noted that “a slew of teams” have shown interest in Beal, and with the Clippers building momentum, Milwaukee could lose out on a chance to compete with that level of offensive firepower.
With Beal looking to re-establish his contract value and secure a starting role, L.A. makes a lot of sense. For the Bucks, it’s a reminder that the rest of the West isn’t sitting still.
Related: West Contender Linked to Suns’ Bradley Beal Amid Buyout Talks
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.