Apr 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Report: James Harden Recruited Former Suns Guard to Clippers

Originally posted on Phoenix Suns on SI | By Donnie Druin | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 3:21 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns' divorce with Bradley Beal has been settled for some time now, and the former All-Star scorer has already found a new home thanks to one of the league's biggest names.

Beal, after completion of his buyout with Phoenix, is set to join the Los Angeles Clippers - and according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, James Harden was a big proponent in making it happen.

"I'm told James Harden was a focal point in recruiting Bradley Beal internally but also speaking directly to Beal and his camp. The Clippers really view Bradley Beal as a perfect fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden ," Charania said.

"Being able to shoot 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range last season, he shot career highs in two-point field goals as well as at the rim last season. This is a player that has three-time All-Star experience, he's a former All-NBA player as well. They see him as a natural, seamless fit at the starting shooting guard position after the trade of Norman Powell."

Full clip:

Reporting for NBA Today on why Bradley Beal chose to give up $13.9M in buyout with the Suns to team up with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in LA: pic.twitter.com/82rE6zVoRR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2025

Beal joins a Clippers team that's considered, on paper, to be one of the best squads in the Western Conference ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Names such as Beal, Harden and Leonard will lead a fairly deep Los Angeles squad in hopes of emerging past the first-round of the postseason - something the Clippers haven't done since the 2021 playoffs.

Beal's agent recently had some choice words about his client's time in Phoenix - which you can catch here.

This article first appeared on Phoenix Suns on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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