Bradley Beal to Join LA Clippers After Suns Buyout, Inks Two-Year Deal

Posted : 17 July 2025

Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal is set to join the LA Clippers after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. Beal, 32, is finalizing a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a player option for the 2026–27 season. The agreement allows Beal the opportunity to become a high-profile free agent next summer if he chooses to opt out.

Beal’s move to the Clippers comes after a two-season stint in Phoenix that failed to yield the desired results. With his departure, the Suns gain much-needed financial flexibility, exiting the league's first and second tax aprons and opening pathways for future draft pick trades and partial midlevel exception use. Beal gave back $13.9 million of the $110 million remaining on his deal to facilitate the buyout, which the Suns are expected to stretch over five years.

In Los Angeles, Beal will slot into the starting shooting guard role, replacing Norman Powell, who was sent to Miami in a three-team trade that also brought forward John Collins to the Clippers from Utah. With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden already on the roster, Beal adds firepower and versatility to an already formidable core. The Clippers also signed center Brook Lopez this offseason as part of a broader strategy to stay competitive in the Western Conference.

James Harden reportedly played a pivotal role in convincing Beal to choose LA, personally engaging with him during the recruitment process. Beal's decision followed weeks of discussions with various teams, including the Lakers, Bucks, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Heat. Ultimately, the Clippers’ vision and roster fit helped seal the deal.

Beal, a consistent scorer throughout his career, averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds last season with the Suns. He also posted career highs in efficiency, including 50.5% overall shooting and 40.7% from three-point range. Despite those strong individual numbers, injuries limited him to just 106 games over two seasons in Phoenix.

Beal spent the first 11 years of his NBA career with the Washington Wizards, earning three All-Star selections and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team in 2021. His 2023 move to Phoenix was a bold push by Suns owner Mat Ishbia, pairing him with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in a high-stakes bid for a championship. However, with that experiment now over and Durant also traded to Houston, Phoenix is reshaping its roster under new coach Jordan Ott and GM Brian Gregory.

For Beal, the shift to LA represents a fresh start with a championship contender — and potentially one final chance to prove his value at the highest level.

Bradley Beal to Join LA Clippers After Suns Buyout, Inks Two-Year Deal

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