PHOENIX – Bradley Beal’s time in Phoenix ended quicker than many expected. The Suns and Bradley Beal reached a buyout agreement this week, cutting short a deal that still had two years and over $110 million left. To complete the buyout, Beal had to give back at least $13.8 million so the Suns could stretch his salary and avoid the harshest tax penalties.
What Bradley Beal’s Buyout Means For The Suns And His Next Team
Beal’s move comes after two seasons in the desert. He stayed productive but never fully found the perfect fit alongside Devin Booker and now-departed Kevin Durant. His numbers dipped below his peak. In 53 games last season, he averaged 17 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Solid, but not max-contract level production.
Why The Bradley Beal Buyout Made Sense For Both Sides
Bradley Beal’s buyout helps both him and the Suns. For Phoenix, waiving and stretching Beal’s salary lifts them out of the restrictive first and second tax aprons. That relief gives them more flexibility to reshape a top-heavy roster that never quite lived up to expectations. With Beal off their books, they can now focus on the harder job of building a contender around Booker despite having limited assets. Matt Ishbia kept to his promise to revamp the roster. It remains to be seen if past mistakes won’t be repeated.
For Beal, the buyout unlocks a new chance to chase a title. His agency, Priority Sports, led by Reggie Brown and Mark Bartelstein, worked all angles once Phoenix gave Beal permission to explore new options. The Suns knew they needed a better roster balance. Beal knew he needed a better role. Both sides acted quickly once he got a 25% advance payment on his 2025-26 salary on July 15th.
Clippers Land Beal On Team-Friendly Deal
With Beal’s buyout finalized, he wasted no time picking his next stop. He will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a player option. The Clippers used their remaining $5.35 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception to lock Beal in. He will slide into the starting shooting guard role with the departure of Norman Powell.
The Clippers have been creating cap flexibility to pursue stars in free agency possibly over the next two summers. Before the Beal addition, the Clippers had only $96 million in guaranteed contracts going into next offseason.
The deal feels like a win for both parties. The Clippers get an experienced scorer who can thrive next to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden—assuming both stars stay healthy. Beal gets a clearer role and another shot at a deep playoff run.
What This Means For Beal’s Legacy
Beal remains one of the league’s smoothest scorers. He shot a career-best 66% on layups and dunks, and shot 57% on 2-pointers last season, according to GeniusIQ. But the last two seasons raised questions about his durability and fit on a superteam. His time in Phoenix showed that three big-name scorers don’t always mesh. The Clippers hope a new environment will bring back more of Beal’s old firepower.
This next chapter could reshape how fans remember him. If Beal lifts the Clippers in tight playoff series, the Suns era may fade from memory fast. If injuries or fit issues linger, the Bradley Beal Buyout might mark the start of his winding down.
A Risk, But The Right Call
Both sides took a risk. The Suns punted on a proven scorer for salary relief. Beal gave up some guaranteed money for a shot at relevance and a ring. In the apron world we live in, that sometimes is the price of chasing better situations.
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