Just like that, the Philadelphia 76ers tally another huge win without really doing anything.
After weeks of speculation, All-Star guard Bradley Beal has made the bold decision to agree to a contract buyout with the Suns after a couple of tumultuous campaigns with the franchise. Now, Beal is headed to Los Angeles, where he is slated to play for the Clippers in one of the more eventful moves this offseason.
The 76ers were never reported to be in the running for Beal, but the team comes out of this saga as an indubitable winner. The East is looking like a very wide-open race next season, and Beal ended up not going back to the conference.
More specifically, though, Beal did not take his talents to one certain franchise that the 76ers probably wished against — the Milwaukee Bucks. Fresh off losing Damian Lillard, who then made a shocking choice himself, the Bucks were in a position to pursue Beal, although that clearly did not happen.
The 76ers win big without moving an inch as Bradley Beal stays in the West
After letting Lillard go to bring in Myles Turner in free agency, the Bucks basically depleted their firepower in the back court. However, the idea of being able to bring Beal in for much cheaper probably enticed them one way or the other.
While there are a slew of issue with Beal’s fit in Phoenix, those cannot be blamed solely on him. He was a victim of poor roster construction, and the numbers paint that story. Despite Beal’s perceived struggles, he turned in his two most efficient seasons shooting the ball with the Suns.
Next to top-end talent, Beal becomes an even more dangerous weapon offensively. He would have been a perfect secondary option next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, giving the 76ers fits along the way.
Philadelphia’s pathway to reclaim dominance over the East is vivid enough for the naked eye to see, although that could be too optimistic of a viewpoint given the team’s current circumstances. Still, this counts as a win for the 76ers, especially with the Bucks looking like very beatable opponents at this very juncture.
The Philadelphia 76ers need every single thing that can play out to their favor next season. And Bradley Beal spurning the Bucks, a key team to beat for the squad, is already one of those factors that can drag down their competition in the upcoming campaign.