With the Miami Heat looking to build a supporting cast around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo this offseason, several players have been linked to the Heat.
The latest potential target is a three-time NBA All-Star who has been on Miami’s radar for a while and is now an unrestricted free agent after declining his $5.6 million player option.
Heat, Bradley Beal Have ‘Mutual Interest’ Ahead of NBA Free Agency
As the NBA’s free-agency period gets underway on Tuesday evening, the Heat are interested in Bradley Beal, a three-time NBA All-Star who opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Beal only played six games last season after suffering a fracture in his left hip.
ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel notes that Beal hasn’t closed the door on a potential return to the Clippers, but he’s also eyeing Miami. His decision to opt out was a bit of a surprise given the fact that he’s coming off a serious injury, with Siegel hinting that his desire to join the Heat may have played a role in his decision.
“Why would a veteran player coming off a serious injury decline any guaranteed money?Well, here we go again with all the Beal-to-Miami talk,” Siegel writes. “For at least the last two years, Beal has been a rumored trade target for the Heat. Now that he’s an unrestricted free agent, the Heat can outright pursue Beal, and ClutchPoints has learned that the two sides hold mutual interest.
“Whether or not Beal, coming off his hip injury, would be willing to take a minimum contract from Miami to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in their championship pursuit is the big question that would dictate whether his immediate future is with the Heat. While it’s possible the Heat could offer Beal part of their mid-level exception to equal the option he declined with LA, Miami will be pursuing several other options in free agency.”
Beal spent the bulk of his prime with the Washington Wizards, playing his first 11 NBA seasons with the team that drafted him. He then joined the Phoenix Suns for two seasons before his six-game stint with Los Angeles.
Miami is looking to add shooting alongside Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, and Co., so Beal makes a lot of sense as a target.
Last season in his six appearances, he averaged 8.2 points and 1.2 3-pointers on 37.5/36.8/75.0 shooting splits in 20.2 minutes a night. However, it’s worth noting that he’s just one year removed from averaging 17.0 points and 1.9 3-pointers per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.6% from deep.
Across his career, Beal has averaged 21.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 3-pointers per game while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range.
If Beal is healthy and willing to sign for the veteran’s minimum, he could be a steal for Pat Riley and the Heat.
