Veteran guard Bradley Beal is expected to agree to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns that includes a player option. Should he eventually exercise it, it will raise some questions about what he might get from another NBA team after signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Could Beal View the Upcoming Season With the Clippers as an Audition?
It’s summer, the time of year when NBA teams make deals, including contract buyouts, in their quest for a championship. On Wednesday, July 16, it was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania that Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Suns. He is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year deal, which is reportedly worth $11 million.
BREAKING: Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/gxZB0ObSms
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2025
Beal’s deal with the Clippers is also expected to include a player option after he clears waivers, which was confirmed by his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports. The option would be available after the 2026-2027 season. Other teams that were interested in acquiring Beal included the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Discussions on the buyout had begun around July 3, according to reporting from Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The Suns had been under pressure with their payroll, being $10 million above the second apron.
The 32-year-old had two years that amounted to $110 million in salary left on his deal, and he is reportedly giving back $13.9 million to the Suns as part of the buyout. Phoenix gets more cap flexibility, as Beal’s remaining contract amount is subject to a waive-and-stretch cap maneuver.
The player option is an intriguing element for Beal. He is set to be the Clippers’ starting shooting guard, joining a revamped starting five which now includes recently acquired forward John Collins from the Utah Jazz. In his two seasons with Phoenix, he averaged 17.6 points on 50.5 percent shooting (netting 40.7 percent from beyond the three-point line) and 3.7 assists per game in 106 appearances.
In his 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards, Beal stood tall as a playmaker and scorer, garnering All-Star nods in the 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2020-21 seasons while also being named Third-Team All-NBA in 2021.
He signed a five-year, $251 million deal with Washington in 2022 after inking a two-year, $72 million extension before being traded to Phoenix. With the Suns, injury issues hampered his output and dimmed hopes for winning a championship alongside point guard Devin Booker and forward Kevin Durant.
The Clippers are a team that has experienced some heartbreak in the playoffs the last few seasons, despite having All-Stars in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. If the team fails to win a title again in 2025-26, Beal could potentially exercise his option to land with another championship contender with a younger core and a longer window. That team could potentially be one from the Eastern Conference that needs a cost-effective veteran boost for its roster.
The Clippers could also revamp their roster by trading Beal before he uses his option in the 2026-2027 season; there isn’t any no-trade clause on this new deal, unlike in the one he signed with Washington.
