Bucks, Clippers Among Best Fits For Suns Star Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal's hours in the desert appear numbered. In the wake of the Phoenix Suns trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, numerous reports have indicated that Beal and the franchise are nearing a buyout, with the three-time All-Star having two seasons remaining on a five-year, $251 million deal.

Beal is coming off a discouraging season. He was moved to the bench midseason in a campaign that saw the Suns miss the playoffs and Beal appear in just 53 games; the 53-game mark is tied for the most games that Beal has appeared in across a single season in each of the last four seasons. 

At the same time, the 33-year-old remains a bucket-getter. He can play in isolation, score off the dribble and still be an at least tertiary source of offense for a contending team. Plus, signing Beal for a near-league minimum deal is an appealing, low-risk-high-reward option for any team.

And with that, here are the three best destinations for Beal if and when he's bought out by the Suns.

The Grizzlies were swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Memphis traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for, most notably, four unprotected first-round picks. An opening now exists in its wing rotation, which is where Beal comes into play.

Beal could either start next to Ja Morant, giving the Grizzlies a vibrant offensive backcourt with two aggressive scorers, or be the team's leading scorer off the bench as their sixth man. Either scenario gives the Grizzlies somebody who helps fill the offensive production that Bane's departure vacates.

From the Grizzlies' perspective, part of the rationale behind trading Bane was so they could extend star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. (five-year, $240 million