Bradley Beal has been a free agent for weeks, but his market has moved slowly. That’s starting to change.
After declining his $5.6 million player option with the LA Clippers, Beal entered the summer as an intriguing buy-low candidate. Beal barely played last season, but still carries a real scoring pedigree when healthy.
Miami emerged early as a suitor for the three-time All-Star. Now, per NBA analyst Jake Fischer, the Boston Celtics are in the mix, too.
Boston Celtics Join Miami Heat in Bradley Beal Sweepstakes
Beal has spent most of this offseason as a Miami Heat storyline. The two sides reportedly had some level of communication after Beal declined his player option with the LA Clippers. And Miami’s need for a reliable backcourt depth made the fit obvious.
Now, according to Fischer, speaking via a livestream on Bleacher Report, the Celtics have entered the picture too.
Miami and Boston are potential landing spots for Bradley Beal, per @JakeLFischer
(Via @BleacherReport ) pic.twitter.com/NFpmXyOWo6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 21, 2026
Jayson Tatum, the Celtics superstar, has spoken fondly in the past about the idea of teaming up with Beal, a friendship that dates back years.
On paper, the fit makes sense too: Boston could use another proven shot-creator in the backcourt, and playing alongside Tatum, Beal wouldn’t have to carry the load he’s used to so far.
With Jaylen Brown now out of the picture in Boston, there’s a vacancy of sorts at the two-guard spot that Beal could theoretically fill.
Beal’s market, to be fair, isn’t what it once was. He appeared in just six games last season for the Clippers before a hip fracture ended his year early, and he hasn’t played a full 82-game slate since the 2018-19 season.
Still, for a career 21.4 points-per-game scorer, that kind of talent doesn’t disappear overnight. So, a value-priced veteran like Beal can still be appealing to many teams, including the Heat and the Celtics.
That said, Miami’s interest hasn’t cooled, but it hasn’t exactly heated up either. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported that the Heat had only preliminary discussions with Beal’s camp and hadn’t pursued him aggressively.
That leaves the door open for Boston, whether the Celtics ultimately walk through it or not. And like so much else around the league right now, how far that door opens may also depend on what LeBron James decides to do first.
The Heat is reportedly interested in James as well. If that pursuit doesn’t pan out, Miami could turn its attention to Beal.
