We spent a whole bunch of time — maybe too much time — in the early 2020s pondering if the Boston Celtics might eventually make a run at acquiring Bradley Beal. And just when you thought that ship had long sailed, here we are again.
The Celtics and Heat are two potential landing spots for the now 33-year-old Beal, according to a report Tuesday from Bleacher Report. Beal is a three-time All-Star who hasn’t played more than 53 games in a season since his 2021 All-NBA nod with Washington.
At first blush, it’s easy to dismiss the possibility. While the Celtics do have an open roster spot, the team sits just below the luxury tax threshold and already added a veteran guard this offseason by signing 38-year-old Mike Conley. Beal appeared in just six games last season for the Clippers and hasn’t positively impacted a team’s on-court performance since departing Washington after the 2022-23 season.
The Celtics are well stocked on the perimeter. And, even if the team treads cautiously with minutes for veterans like Conley and Paul George, there is a stable of young wings headlined by Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. who need playing time to continue their own development.
Beal curiously declined a $5.6 million player option to hit the free-agent market. With nearly $343 million in career earnings, he can prioritize finding the best situation.
That’s probably in Miami, another team that was often linked to Beal pursuits through the years. The Heat, having churned much of their young talent to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, are better situated to roll the dice on an aging star than Boston is with its young depth.
Even at the veteran minimum, Beal’s presence would force the Celtics to make roster changes before the end of the season to ensure finishing below the luxury tax, something that would reset pesky repeater penalties and allow the team to spend more freely next summer.
The Celtics will invariably be linked to Beal because of his relationship with fellow St. Louis native Jayson Tatum. The pair grew up in the same neighborhood and Beal served as a veteran mentor to Tatum as he began his march to NBA stardom.
There is something to be said for teams prioritizing a superstar’s happiness. The Celtics made a bold decision to overhaul their core this season by trading away Jaylen Brown.
Ultimately, that alone might not be enough to warrant a pursuit. If injuries were to deplete Boston’s veteran depth and Beal was still available, maybe it becomes more of a conversation.
Beal once ranked among the league leaders in usage rate during his time in Washington, using as much as 35.2 percent of possessions during the 2019-20 season. He was still a fairly efficient scorer before injuries derailed his time in Phoenix. The healthy version of Beal who could still crack a defense off the dribble and create for teammates was undeniably intriguing.
Alas, the Suns were 7.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Beal on the court versus off during his last healthy season in 2024-25. Phoenix’s offensive efficiency dipped by 5.2 points per 100 possessions with Beal. His defensive intensity waned at times when he was a 30-point-per-game scorer, and his team’s defensive efficiency has dipped with him on the court in seven of his last eight seasons.
It was fun to daydream about Beal in Boston when the Celtics were hunting stars to aid their quest for Banner 18. The path to Banner 19 likely hinges on leaning into developing the younger players they’ve put around Tatum.
