The Golden State Warriors will not lose sleep if Bradley Beal signs with another team, most likely with the Los Angeles Clippers, as multiple reports suggest.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the reported Warriors’ interest in Beal “has been exaggerated” as the three-time All-Star guard is nearing a buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
“Despite being mentioned in recent days as an emerging force to potentially poach Beal from Los Angeles, the Warriors’ pursuit of the former All-Star has been exaggerated, sources said. Golden State, like several other teams, would surely give Beal a minimum contract if he were willing to accept such a deal and wanted to join them,” Siegel wrote.
The Clippers are expected to give Beal their remaining $5.3 million in their midlevel exception, which is above than the veteran minimum. Additionally, the Clippers have an opening in their starting unit after trading Norman Powell to the Miami Heat in a three-team deal that brought back forward John Collins.
Ideal Steph Curry Backcourt Partner
Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a three-point shot over Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors, on the other hand, are looking to pair Stephen Curry with a two-way wing. Beal is more of a scoring wing who struggled to find his All-Star form next to two All-Stars, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, in Phoenix.
“I think we learned a lot about the team this past year, especially since we’ve added Jimmy [Butler],” Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. told ESPN’s Katie George during halftime of the Warriors’ NBA Summer League opener in Las Vegas on July 11. “We feel like we have a group going forward that’s going to be pretty good. What do we need to add? I think from that standpoint, we want to look to the frontcourt to add some shooting, in the backcourt some defense.
“Offensively, guys that can shoot, pass and dribble. There’s tons of needs, but I think we’ve zeroed in on some areas that we can address. As the summer unfolds, we’ll continue to try and do that.”
The Athletic previously reported, citing league sources, that Beal has also considered the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA insider Jake Fischer also reported that the Warriors were confirmed to have interest in Beal.
“Yesterday we reported that the Clippers, Lakers, Bucks and Wolves were confirmed suitors for Bradley Beal,” Fischer posted on X on July 8. “I’m told that the Warriors also should be added to the list.”
Warriors Considered LeBron Trade Again
The Warriors have yet to make a move in free agency. But it doesn’t mean they have been inactive in looking for avenues to improve a veteran core led by Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green that reached the second round last season.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors revisited their thoughts of pairing LeBron James and Curry after their failed attempt last year.
“A handful of teams — including the Golden State Warriors, who tried to trade for James in 2023-24 — considered again whether to make an offer, sources said,” Windhorst and Shelburne wrote on Friday, July 11.
Fred Katz of The Athletic singled out Butler as the Warriors’ obvious salary match for James.
“Butler makes a tad more than James does, marking the trade legal, though if it were constructed this way, it would hard cap the Lakers at the first apron, since they’d be absorbing more money than they send out in a deal. If the Lakers were fine with that, they could execute the one-for-one trade,” Katz wrote on July 2.
Butler, 35, will earn $54.1 million next season. James, 40, just recently opted into his $52.6 million player option that will make him an unrestricted free agent after next season.
