Bradley Beal to join Clippers after Suns buyout agreement

LOS ANGELES — Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has reached an agreement on a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, pending his clearance through the waiver process, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The second year of Beal’s deal includes a player option, giving the 32-year-old guard flexibility to decide whether to return for the 2026‑27 season. Beal is expected to forego roughly $13.9 million to complete the buyout, with the Suns likely to stretch the remaining cost over five years to manage their salary-cap commitments.

Beal, who played two injury-plagued seasons in Phoenix after arriving via trade from Washington in 2023, averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds last season over 53 games, well below his career standards, but shot 49.7 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from three-point range, and 80.3 percent from the free throw line.

His departure marks the end of Phoenix’s expensive “Big Three” experiment with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, which failed to yield a playoff series win and prompted a broader roster reset by owner Mat Ishbia.

For the Clippers, Beal’s arrival adds another elite scorer and playmaker beside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. With the loss of sharpshooter Norman Powell, Los Angeles sought a proven scorer at the combo guard position. 

The guard-rich roster now features a mix of veteran talent, including newly acquired big men Brook Lopez and John Collins. Los Angeles is banking on Beal’s proven shooting and offensive versatility to push deeper into the Western Conference postseason after three straight first-round exits. 

The Clippers will now have enough money under the first apron after using the rest of the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to acquire a player on a veteran minimum contract, with many widely speculating that Chris Paul will seek a reunion with Los Angeles to end his career.