The Phoenix Suns might have finally parted ways with Kevin Durant - getting fleeced by the Houston Rockets in the process - but they still have a Bradley Beal problem. The 31-year-old possessing a no-trade clause that makes him impossible to move if he doesn't want to go anywhere, not to mention the fact he's owed $110 million across the next two seasons.
The only known interest in Beal came at the trade deadline, when the Washington Wizards were rumored to be mulling over bringing him back to the franchise. Other than that, the Atlanta Hawks have been mentioned as another landing spot - assuming Beal would be open to going there - although just how serious the Hawks are on adding Beal is unknown.
Chicago Bulls could make an offseason move for Beal.
Jake Weinbach took to X as the league gears up for the NBA Draft, and suggested that the Bulls could be a potential landing spot for Beal now that the Durant deal is done. This makes complete sense for the Suns - they have Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Beal who all play the same position - and they current don't view themselves as contenders after Durant's departure.
They want to get out of the Beal business as soon as possible, so as to get under the second apron. The interesting part here is that the franchise is also supposedly open to what would be a monster buyout, just so they can move on as an organization. Much of Beal's salary would still come up against their cap until his contract runs out, but it would be a chance to start fresh.
Beal might know this, and could then face the very real possibility of being out of the league altogether. If that sounds drastic, what team do you think would bring him in on anything other than a minimum after what we've seen from his time in The Valley? So in order to save face, going to a team like the Bulls to be reunited with Billy Donovan might appeal.
i do not care how much the Suns want Nikola Vucevic. keep Bradley Beal and Jalen Green’s contracts far away from the Bulls pic.twitter.com/amsArybl86
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) June 24, 2025
We can't think of a single reason why the Bulls would be up for this - they must really enjoy pushing for a play-in spot - but that's not for Phoenix to care about. Perhaps they want to get out of the Nikola Vucevic business themselves, and the Suns could do with another center on their team. Beal would then be the Bulls' problem to try and fit into their roster.
This still feels like an optimistic update - but for Suns' fans - that's all they've got when it comes to Beal right now. Rumors about him leaving so early in the offseason are encouraging, and they may yet allow General Manager Brian Gregory to save face after the disaster Durant deal. If nothing comes of this, the franchise will be a step closer to considering a buyout.