When Jordan Ott was hired as head coach of the Phoenix Suns this offseason, he met with Bradley Beal to present him with some ideas on how he could be used during the upcoming season. Beal’s usage rate dropped last season under Mike Budenholzer and he was moved to a bench role. Beal averaged 17 points per game and remained an efficient scorer, but his production no longer matched his salary of $113 million over the next two seasons.
Beal decided he needed to move on from the Suns this offseason if the opportunity was presented.
“We couldn’t take the chance [of another lost year],” Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN. “This decision was about basketball. Bradley wants to play in big games and in big moments.”
The Suns further complicated Beal’s future with the team when they acquired Jalen Green as part of their return for Kevin Durant. The Suns also held talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a deal built around Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo and Terrence Shannon Jr., which could have allowed Phoenix to prioritize keeping Beal.
Shortly after the Suns moved forward with the Durant trade with the Rockets, they granted permission to Beal and Bartelstein to engage with other teams about a deal following his buyout.
James Harden was critical in recruiting Beal to the Los Angeles Clippers, even speaking directly with Bartelstein. Harden discussed the Clippers’ depth and also how the franchise embraced him following his own disappointing tenures with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Suns tried to get Beal to leave more money on the table than the $13.9 million required to waive-and-stretch his contract. Sources tell ESPN that the negotiations got heated, but Beal ultimately didn’t give up a penny more than what was required for the stretch provision to be used.
“There were some intense conversations,” Mark Bartelstein said.