Timeline emerges for possible resolution to Bradley Beal situation

Bradley Beal is still a member of the Phoenix Suns, but he may be waiting for a particular date before making his grand exit.

Beal’s contract with the Suns stipulates that he is owed a 25 percent advance payment on his salary for the 2025-26 NBA season on July 15, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Saturday. Stein adds that it is believed Beal could choose to wait for that payment to go through before proceeding with his departure.

The three-time All-Star Beal is owed $53.7 million next season, meaning that his advance payment on July 15 would be worth roughly $13.4 million. It is possible that, in a buyout scenario, Beal would still be able to receive that figure regardless. But with a guarantee of receiving that advance payment in only a few days, it makes sense for Beal to wait for just a little bit longer and lock it in.

Beal, who turned 32 earlier this summer, arrived on the Suns via a 2023 trade with the Washington Wizards. But he has missed nearly 60 games due to injury over his two seasons in Phoenix and saw his numbers dip (17.6 points per night) even in the games that he was healthy for. With Beal also acting like a malcontent at times with the Suns, it appears that the two sides are all but done with each other.

Since Beal has a full no-trade clause in his contract and also holds a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27 on top of his $53.7 million salary for 2025-26, the most logical scenario would be a buyout agreement, which Beal clearly seems amenable to. Earlier this week, it was reported that Beal, upon clearing waivers after his potential buyout, would like to sign with the LA Clippers, who have a hole at shooting guard after recently making a big trade.

There are a few other playoff teams that have been linked to Beal as well. But in any case, it looks like a resolution to Beal’s situation could be coming within just a few days (after his July 15 advance payment date).