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Bradley Beal to join LA Clippers after contract buyout with Phoenix Suns — reports

Published July 17, 2025, 11:55 AMPao Ambat
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Bradley Beal joins another Western Conference contender to form a new 'Big Three', teaming up with the Clippers' star duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in Los Angeles.

Could Bradley Beal be the missing piece for the LA Clippers squad, which already features the superstar tandem of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden? | Photo: Facebook/Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers

In 2023, Bradley Beal teamed up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix to form a “Big Three.” 

Now, two years later, Beal is set to join a new one—this time with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in Los Angeles.

The three-time NBA All-Star has reached a contract buyout with the Suns and is set to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with Clippers, according to senior league insider Shams Charania.

Beal’s tenure in Phoenix was plagued by injuries and a lack of synergy with the team’s vision. Over the course of his two seasons, he averaged 17.6 points per game, a significant drop from expectations for the former Washington Wizards star.

His arrival is a critical addition to the Clippers, who have long sought the perfect blend of scoring, playmaking, and leadership to complement Leonard and Harden. Beal, who has averaged 21.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in his career, brings those qualities in spades. 

Charania also reported that Beal’s primary goal was to “find the best basketball situation,” and Los Angeles may provide the fresh start he’s looking for.

With the recent departure of Norman Powell, who traded to the Miami Heat earlier this month, the Clippers have found their new starting shooting guard in a player who shot a career-high 40.7% from beyond the arc last season.

[ALSO READ: Heat land Norman Powell, Clippers acquire John Collins in three-team trade with Jazz]

Los Angeles has had an intriguing offseason so far, assembling a talented—and notably older—roster.

The Clippers still have 34-year-old Leonard, and re-signed a 35-year-old Harden, and a  36-year-old Nic Batum. Alongside 32-year-old Beal, the team also added a 37-year-old Brook Lopez to their roster.

They also acquired John Collins in a trade, joining a roster that already includes Ivica Zubac, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn, and Derrick Jones Jr.

LA finished last season with a solid 50-32 record but were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets in a hard-fought seven-game series.  

Meanwhile, the Suns benefited from the buyout, allowing them to reset financially, open up cap space, and gain more flexibility in future trades.

This move positions Phoenix to build a younger, more dynamic team around Booker, the franchise’s cornerstone. Recently, the Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal, acquiring a mix of draft picks and veteran talent to accelerate their rebuild.

[ALSO READ: Chet Holmgren, Devin Booker ink maximum contract extensions with Thunder, Suns—reports]