Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal is set to join the LA Clippers after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. His agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, confirmed that Beal intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal once he clears waivers.
The contract includes a player option for the 2026-27 season, positioning the 32-year-old guard to become a premier free agent next summer.
In Los Angeles, Beal provides another potent scoring and playmaking threat alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. The acquisition is part of an active offseason for the Clippers, who also signed center Brook Lopez and acquired forward John Collins in a three-team trade.
The decision was driven by Beal’s desire to find a better basketball fit following a disappointing two-year stint in Phoenix. After the Suns granted him permission to speak with other teams, Beal held extensive discussions with several contenders—including the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers—before choosing the Clippers.
To facilitate the move, Beal is giving back $13.9 million of the $110 million remaining on his contract. The buyout provides the Suns with significant financial flexibility. By waiving and likely stretching his remaining salary over five years, Phoenix will move below the restrictive first and second salary cap aprons, allowing them to utilize the mid-level exception and regain access to more tradeable draft picks.
The move is a key part of a complete roster overhaul promised by Suns owner Mat Ishbia. The franchise also recently executed a blockbuster trade sending Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a deal that brought back veterans Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with several draft assets.
Beal originally joined the Suns in a 2023 trade from the Washington Wizards, a move that created a “big three” with Durant and Devin Booker. While he was productive, averaging 17.6 points on efficient shooting, his tenure was plagued by injuries that limited him to just 106 of a possible 164 games.
Prior to his time in Phoenix, Beal spent 11 seasons with the Wizards, where he was named an All-Star three times and earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team in 2021.
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