The Suns have wisely decided to transition from the failed era of the triumvirate of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Durant was moved to Houston in a massive 7-team trade late last month.
With Devin Booker agreeing to a $150 million extension, Bradley Beal is the other piece that the Suns are looking to ship out of town. However, Beal’s massive contract, Beal is owed $110 million over the next two seasons, as well as his no-trade clause, created stumbling blocks in constructing a suitable trade.
With the Beal trade market all but non-existent, the Suns and Beal were left with no other choice than to work out a buyout, in order to part ways.
According to The Ringer’s Zach Lowe and The Athletic’s Fred Katz, a waive-and-stretch buyout deal between the two sides is close to being completed.
Beal will have to give back around $13.8 million of his contract for that to happen ( something that Beal appears willing to do).
With Beal on the path to becoming a free agent, While Mr. Katz has reported Beal has considered teams such as the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the front runner to acquire the services of the 3-time NBA All-Star.
With the departure of Norman Powell, who was sent to Miami in a three-team deal earlier this week, the Clippers need the scoring and ball handling that Beal can more than capably provide. He could fit in the starting lineup or if the Clippers want to keep Kris Dunn’s defensive prowess in their starting five, Beal can lead the second unit.
The Clippers would be able to offer Beal their mid-level exception, will be estimated to be about $5.3 million, or the room exception, which allows NBA teams that are below the salary cap to sign or acquire players through trade, even if it will push them past the cap. For Los Angeles that would allow them to offer Beal $5.1 million.
