Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Phoenix Suns Offload Bradley Beal’s $251M Burden With a Buyout, Beal Joins Clippers

Bradley Beal ends his Suns chapter after a major buyout.

Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bradley Beal’s rocky Suns stint ends as Phoenix cuts ties after years of financial strain. Seen as one of the NBA’s most restrictive contracts in recent memory, Beal’s $251M deal crippled Suns’ spending.

According to Shams Charania, Beal and Suns have agreed to a buyout which will see the 32-year-old depart. This means that the $251 million contract is off the books of the Phoenix Suns.

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

Bradley Beal originally signed this contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022. The Phoenix Suns agreed to take the contract, which proved to be a huge mistake that limited their roster spending. Despite high expectations, the Beal-Durant-Booker trio failed to make a playoff appearance together.

The Suns failed to qualify for even the Play-In Tournament, falling short despite their top-heavy roster. However, they now move towards a fresh start, getting out of the first and second apron under the leadership of a new head coach and general manager.

Clippers Snag Beal in Free Agency

Beal has agreed to join the Clippers, kickstarting a new chapter in his career. Both the parties were waiting for the buyout deal to go through, which paved the way for Beal’s entry into free agency.

The Clippers offered a $10.9 million two year deal, through which Bradley Beal will earn an average of $5.4 million per year. This is a significant drop from his average annual salary of $50.2 million at the Phoenix Suns.

Beal is determined to rebuild his form and re-establish his value after a difficult run in Phoenix. From the beginning, he remained interested in joining the Clippers. The Western Conference has gotten even more interesting, with the Clippers emerging as a major threat.

They have a starting combination of James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ivica Zubac, and Derrick Jones Jr. This is a fairly competitive side having the potential to go deep into the post season.