Phoenix Suns' New GM Expressed His Loyalty to Mat Ishbia 1 Nov 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia in attendance against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

'It Doesn’t Mean He’s a Bad Player' – Phoenix Suns’ Mat Ishbia Gets 100% Honest on Buying Out Bradley Beal

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 9:12 AM ET

Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia recently broke his silence on Bradley Beal’s transfer to the Los Angeles Clippers after the team bought out his contract last week.

Speaking on Arizona Sports, Ishbia was not afraid to admit that the Big 3 of Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant failed, so he decided to cut his losses once and for all.

“He’s a great guy. Just not a fit with Phoenix Suns going forward. We told him that. We made that decision. We let them know we wanted to move forward without him,” Ishbia said via Duane Rankin of AZ Central.

Apr 12, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8), guard Devin Booker (1), guard Bradley Beal (3), forward Royce O’Neale (00), and forward Kevin Durant (35) huddle up before the final seconds of the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

“It doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad player… He’s a great player, but for Phoenix and what we’re doing, it wasn’t a fit and we had to move on and make those decisions,” he concluded.

Phoenix Suns listed as suitor for three-time NBA All-Star

Marc Stein of The Stein Line recently reported that the Phoenix Suns are among those who did their due diligence on Ben Simmons after the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks checked in on him earlier this summer.

Feb 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) looks to post up against Washington Wizards forward Tristan Vukcevic (00) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York, and Sacramento,” Stein reported.

Simmons hasn’t been the same since his injuries, but he remains a serviceable role player for the right price. The former No. 1 overall pick played 51 regular season games for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.