Bucks: It seems like Giannis isn't leaving Milwaukee (yet). Damian Lillard's Achilles injury knocks him out for the entirety of next season and potentially beyond that. The thing is, with Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum both suffering Achilles injuries as well, the East is completely wide open. Why not go for another run while Giannis is still a Buck? This deal is hideous, but the case is simple. Damian Lillard will not play next year, and Pat Connaughton barely played this year. Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen will both play meaningful minutes for the Bucks. Their contracts are terrible, but I would rather pay $70m for two guys who play than $60m for two guys who don't. Besides, their fit in this Milwaukee rotation isn't bad. Beal provides some much needed shot creation, and Allen provides some much needed off ball gravity. At this point, what's the harm?

Suns: Beal might be the single most toxic asset in the league right now. His fit in Phoenix is terrible, he makes an insane amount of money, and his no-trade clause prevents him from being moved without his explicit consent. While he has been firm on keeping that no-trade clause, he might be inclined to accept this trade. First and foremost, with Jalen Green on the team now, his basketball role on Phoenix has completely vanished. On top of that, the entire organization and fan base despises him. Thus, moving to Milwaukee to be a primary ballhandler for a team that desperately needs it sounds pretty nice. From the Suns perspective, this deal gets them out of the second apron of the luxury tax immediately. For a team pivoting towards a retool, that flexibility is crucial. After a year of helping Lillard recover, they might even get some basketball value from him in the 2026-27 season. Who knows, who cares? Getting off Beal and under the apron is the goal, and this accomplishes that.