Why did Bradley Beal sign with Clippers? How contract buyout with Suns led star to Los Angeles

A three-time All-Star guard will be on his way to LA.

Wednesday, Bradley Beal reached a contract buyout with the Suns, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Beal will sign with the Clippers once he clears waivers.

The news comes after Beal spent two seasons in Phoenix, a period in which team success was at a premium. In reaching a buyout agreement, Beal will give back some of the $110.8 million he was owed over the final two years of his deal.

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Here is more on the 32-year-old's decision to join the Clippers and why the Suns cut ties.

Why did Bradley Beal sign with Clippers? 

Beal had been linked to the Clippers since rumors began to swirl of an ending in Phoenix.

LA is having a big offseason as it has made moves to acquire John Collins and Brook Lopez to bolster its frontcourt rotation. Beal steps in as a replacement for Norman Powell, who was traded to Miami as part of the three-team deal that sent Collins to LA.

The Clippers finished as the West's fifth seed with a 50-32 record in the 2024-25 season. LA was outlasted in the opening round of the playoffs, coming up short in Game 7 of the opening round against Denver.

Beal will likely step into the starting lineup alongside Collins, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac.

Why did the Suns release Bradley Beal?

Phoenix released Beal to continue its move in a different direction. Beal was a poor fit with the Suns, and the decision to cut him gives both parties a clean break.

The franchise moved to acquire Beal via trade in 2023, getting him in a three-team deal that involved six players and over 10 draft picks.

Beal was limited to 53 games in his first season with Phoenix, but he averaged 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from 3-point range. The Suns won 49 games in 2023-24 but were swept in the first round of the playoffs as the West's sixth seed.

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Due to Beal's contract, Phoenix was unable to improve its roster. Beal earned $50.2 million in the 2024-25 season, and his salary, coupled with that of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, gave the Suns very little flexibility as they owed three players north of $150 million.

In addition to his high annual salary, Beal had a no-trade clause in his contract that gave him the power to veto any deal he was involved in. Beal's name was involved in various trade conversations, but was not expected to waive the clause for the teams that Phoenix was negotiating with.

With the waive and stretch provision, the Suns will pay Beal a smaller annual figure over a longer timespan to give themselves more flexibility in the immediate future. This is the same provision the Bucks used to waive Damian Lillard near the start of free agency.

MORE: Why the Bucks made shocking decision to waive Damian Lillard

Phoenix has had a transformational offseason, parting ways with All-Star forward Kevin Durant in a historic seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the draft rights to three 2025 picks to the Suns.

Booker will retain his spot as the Suns' franchise player, but the team is getting younger and will be more flexible in its retooling moving forward.

Bradley Beal contract

Beal is signing a two-year deal with the Clippers worth $11 million, per Charania.

Beal was set to make more than $110 million over the next two seasons. Here is the contract Beal was under before being waived by Phoenix. It is unclear how much he is giving back in the buyout.

Suns salary cap

By reaching this agreement with Beal, the Suns have two roster spots. The franchise signed two of its rookies to standard NBA deals while Koby Brea is on a two-way contract.

Depending on the terms of the contract buyout, the Suns could under the first apron to offer a free agent the Mid-Level Exception (MLE), according to Suns insider Gerald Bouguet.

A standard MLE this season is $14.1 million, while the taxpayer MLE is $5.7 million.