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Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) against the LA Clippers at Footprint Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bradley Beal Makes Decision, Will Join Clippers After Suns Buyout

Originally posted on Los Angeles Clippers on SI
By Joey Linn | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 1:40 PM ET

After weeks of speculation, Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns have finally agreed to a contract buyout. The three-time NBA All-Star will join the LA Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal upon clearing waivers. This news, which has been considered an inevitability by many around the league, was first reported on Wednesday by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Beal was acquired by Phoenix in 2023 from the Washington Wizards. When the Suns made this move, they also acquired the remaining four years on Beal’s five-year, $251 million contract he signed in 2022. This deal came with a no-trade clause, which in addition to its size, made a trade out of Phoenix next to impossible for the Suns.

This is what led to the possibility of a buyout, which finally took place on Wednesday. When it first became known Beal could be entering unrestricted free agency, the Clippers were immediately considered around the league to be a strong suitor. LA then dealt Norman Powell to the Miami Heat, which officially cleared the way for a different 32-year-old shooting guard to enter the mix.

Powell started all 60 games he appeared in for the Clippers last season, averaging a career-high 21.8 points. While things can change, Beal is currently expected to occupy that recently vacated starting spot.

Prior to last season, Beal had started every game he appeared in since the 2016-17 season. Of his 801 career NBA games, 752 have come as a starter. When former Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer made the decision in January to bench Beal, it was clear the former All-NBA guard was less than thrilled with the move.

“I’m a starter in the league,” Beal said in January. “I firmly believe that. I don’t believe — no disrespect — I’m a starter. That’s what I firmly believe. But coach made his decision. I’m not gonna sit here and argue with him. I’m not gonna sit here and be a distraction… He made his decision. I live with it… I just gotta go out and play my game and do what I do. Whatever happens from there, happens from there.”

"A little difficult."

Bradley Beal was surprised by benching, said he wasn't given an indication about it.

"Coach made a decision. I'm not going to sit there and argue with him. I'm not going to sit here and be a distraction. I'm not going to sit here and be an asshole." #Suns pic.twitter.com/wBBTNTDWEG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 7, 2025

In 15 games off the bench last season, Beal averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 52.9% from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range. He averaged 30.9 minutes per game when coming off the bench, which was just a slight dip from his 32.6 as a starter.

Should the Clippers’ roster remain mostly unchanged between now and training camp, Beal is expected to begin the season starting alongside James Harden in the backcourt. This would pair Harden and Beal with a frontcourt of Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac.

This is a different look from what the Clippers had last season. Following Leonard’s return, LA’s most-used five-man group was Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, and Zubac. This lineup played 286 minutes together, outscoring opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions, adding a 107.9 defensive rating that ranked sixth in the NBA among all five-man groups with that many minutes together. That lineup also posted a 117.3 offensive rating that ranked fifth by the same criteria.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Clippers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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