Suns could gift Jayson Tatum perfect present if latest rumors are true

As lame as it is that the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement has essentially forced the Boston Celtics to tear themselves to pieces, it does leave more room for imagination. The Celtics and their fans are officially back in the “what if we got Player X” boat, which isn’t quite as fun as being in the “we could win the title” boat, but it’s something.

Well, as of Sunday, “Player X” is Bradley Beal. The Phoenix Suns guard is rumored to be in serious talks for a buyout from his lucrative contract, which would enable him to sign wherever he pleases as a free agent. 

“Bradley Beal is actively exploring his options with other teams in anticipation of a Suns buyout, league sources tell (Marc Stein),” NBA Insider Marc Stein shared in a post to X. “There will be considerable interest in Beal once he becomes an unrestricted free agent.”

Could Boston be amongst those with “considerable interest?” Would it make sense for them to be?

Let’s talk about it.

Should the Celtics kick the tires on a potential Bradley Beal signing?

First and foremost, Beal has had a rough two years in the desert. There’s no getting around it. A combination of injuries, weird fit, and resentment from the fanbase/front office haven’t exactly made things easy on the three-time All-Star. His $50+ million annual salary and no-trade clause hindered the Suns from being able to make the moves needed to add depth and round out their roster.

Celtics fans know more than anyone how much large-scale contracts can put a strain on things with this new CBA. That strain turns into a tear when you go 36-46 and finish 11th in the conference, like the Suns did.

Beal simply didn’t impact winning at the level that a player who makes as much as he does should in Phoenix. It’s no wonder that the discourse surrounding him has been almost universally negative for two years.

Now, if he’s making $5-10 million per year, which he would be in whatever scenario that would bring him to Boston, the conversation is far different.

Last season in Phoenix, the 12-year vet averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc.

Again, if he wasn’t making $50 million, those numbers would’ve been far more impressive and appreciated, even with his defensive shortcomings.

At 6’4”, Beal isn’t tiny, but he’s still small enough to be targeted on defense. His years of being a high-usage player are probably past him. Thankfully, if he were to sign with the Celtics after a hypothetical buyout, he wouldn’t be asked to take on that sort of role. Beal would likely be a sixth-man type for the Cs -- at least when Jayson Tatum is eventually back from his ruptured Achilles.

Speaking of Tatum, his close relationship with Beal has been well documented over the years. The Celtics star looked up to Beal as he followed in his footsteps through Chaminade High School in St. Louis. Beal even connected Tatum to his longtime trainer, Drew Hanlen.

With JT working his way back into playing condition and Beal trying to rehab his reputation around the league, the power of friendship could take them a long way.

Without Tatum, the expectations in Boston are significantly lower for the Celtics. Especially with the considerable losses of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and potentially Al Horford.

A situation without expectations could do Beal some justice, too. If Boston were to sign him on a team-friendly two-year deal, they could sell him on a “ramp-up” season before the team makes a real push for the 2026-27 title.