- Bradley Beal agrees to buyout with Suns in order to join Clippers
- Beal is giving back $13.9m out of the $110m on final two years of his deal
- The move gives the Suns increased team-building flexibility by taking out 1st & 2nd apron
Getty Images SportBradley Beal agrees to contract buyout with Suns to join Clippers
WHAT HAPPENED?
The three-time NBA All-Star has reached a contract buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns and is expected to sign a two-year deal worth $11 million with the LA Clippers, according to his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports via ESPN on Wednesday.
The contract includes a player option for the 2026–27 season, giving Beal flexibility to test free agency next summer if he chooses. At 32, the veteran guard could find himself among the most sought-after names on the market in 2026.
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Beal looks set to slot in seamlessly alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in Los Angeles, offering the Clippers another proven scorer and savvy playmaker. LA has been busy this offseason, adding Brook Lopez in free agency and landing John Collins in a three-team trade that sent Norman Powell to Miami.
After two underwhelming years in Phoenix, Beal prioritized finding the right basketball fit. The Suns allowed him to speak with interested teams, and after weeks of meetings and interest from the Heat, Lakers, Bucks, and Timberwolves, Beal chose the Clippers.
To facilitate the move, Beal gave up $13.9 million from his remaining $110 million deal, which the Suns will spread out using the waive-and-stretch provision. He'll now step into the starting shooting guard role vacated by Powell.
For the Clippers, it’s another step in building a flexible, star-ready roster. For Phoenix, the buyout clears cap room, midlevel access, and future picks, completing a major roster overhaul that already saw Kevin Durant shipped to Houston in a blockbuster rebuild.
WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SUNS?
Suns owner Mat Ishbia promised a cultural reset last season, and he’s wasted no time delivering on that pledge. With new head coach Jordan Ott and GM Brian Gregory now steering the ship, Phoenix has completely reshaped its roster, and the centerpiece of that overhaul was a blockbuster deal sending Kevin Durant to Houston.
In return, the Suns landed seasoned pros Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with a haul of draft assets. That includes the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, used to snag Duke's promising big man Khaman Maluach, plus two more intriguing prospects in Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea, and an additional second-round selection.
With Durant off the books and Bradley Beal's buyout complete, Phoenix now enjoys much-needed flexibility. They're no longer restricted by the league’s apron rules, giving them access to more tradable draft capital and a larger chunk of the mid-level exception—key tools for rebuilding a more balanced and competitive squad.
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