The Boston Celtics may have a Bradley Beal decision to make this offseason, but the fit is far from obvious.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said on a Jul. 21 livestream that Boston should not be ruled out as a landing spot for the former All-NBA guard. Fischer pointed to Beal’s ties to Jayson Tatum and said the Celtics remain in the mix as Beal weighs his options.
“Bradley Beal has got several options,” Fischer said during a Jul. 21 livestream on Bleacher Report. “I was told today that Beal’s decision is not exactly being held up by LeBron [James], but it is being impacted by it.
Because I do think there’s some Miami interest there. I wouldn’t rule out Boston for Beal because of the connection with Jayson Tatum.
I even asked about that today, and I was not told to rule out Boston, so there you go.”
Beal’s most recent NBA action came with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he appeared in six games last season before hip surgery ended his year. He averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists while shooting 37.5% from the field and 36.8% from three.
There are clear reasons Boston could be tempted. Beal is close with Tatum, he has shown he can still hit from long range - he shot 40.7% from deep across two seasons with the Phoenix Suns as a No. 2/3 option - and he is still capable of helping an NBA team.
Even so, the Celtics have plenty of reasons to pass. Beal is 33 and has been hit hard by injuries, playing 60 or more games just once since the 2018-29 season, when he got to 60 in 2020-21. He is no longer the player he was with the Washington Wizards, and Boston would likely push itself over the tax line even if it signed him for the veteran’s minimum.
That makes this look like a move the Celtics can live without. Boston could keep its final roster spot open and wait for someone to emerge, with a two-way player or someone like John Tonje as possible options. That approach also avoids adding another injury concern to a group that already has Paul George and Mitchell Robinson to monitor.
There is also the development angle. Boston has young players who could use the opportunity, including Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. Bringing in Beal would take away some of that runway.
Beal still has value, and the issues that frustrated Suns fans were more about fit, injuries, and contract than whether he could still play. But for the Celtics, the better move may be to let someone else take that swing.
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