Bradley Beal Clippers Signing After Phoenix Suns Buyout Dismays NBA Fans

Bradley Beal's monster contract has been waived and stretched and NBA fans are unable to believe it.

Bradley Beal Clippers Signing After Phoenix Suns Buyout Dismays NBA Fans

Bradley Beal Phoenix Suns (FS Image)

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Bradley Beal was widely known to basketball fans to be on the worst contract in the NBA. That dubious title will now be transferred to another player after the Phoenix Suns decided to bite the bullet. They waived and stretched Beal’s remaining $108 million on his contract and released him. His services are now with Steve Ballmer and the LA Clippers, with his $11 million deal for 2 years providing cap relief to Phoenix.

The news, although an expected outcome at this point, still comes as a shock to NBA fans. This is the second biggest contract in NBA history to be subject to the stretch and waive rule. The record is held by Damian Lillard, whose remaining 2 years and $113 million on his Milwaukee Bucks deal were eaten by Geoff Hurst and co.

This marks the end of a forgettable Big 3 era in Arizona, as only Devin Booker remains on the Suns. This team made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 without Kevin Durant or Beal. The outfit went on to win 64 games before Luka Doncic dissected them in Games 6 and 7 of their 2022 faceoff. The arrival of Durant got the Suns only one series win against a hobbled Clippers team in 2023 before the Denver Nuggets ousted them.

Bradley Beal will be expected to bolster the Clippers’ perimeter, which needs more shooting. The team was one game away from putting Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets out of the playoffs. Cutting Beal allows the Suns to focus on Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Booker and their other talent in their prime.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed the leak with a series of tweets on Wednesday morning.

The crux of the decision for Beal and his representation was finding the best basketball situation first and foremost once he was granted permission by the Suns to speak to interested suitors around the NBA, and Bartelstein led an exhaustive process over the last few weeks. Beal became extremely excited about the route to part ways after meeting with multiple interested suitors, and Bartelstein then moved forward with the Suns on completing the release Wednesday, opening the path for Beal to start a new chapter in LA.

NBA fans have no faith in the Clippers despite signing Bradley Beal, even as the Phoenix Suns’ fiscal sense is questioned

Bradley Beal does not inspire confidence in NBA fans after his less than stellar output in his past three seasons. He has had injury troubles over the past two years and even when fit, hasn’t been close to his 2019-2021 self, when he averaged 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons with the Washington Wizards. He would have to turn the clock back, which fans don’t see him doing on the Clippers.

Bradley Beal will be a great superstar addition
Bradley Beal will be a great secondary addition (Image via Open Source/X)

Still, his signing in LA cuts options for the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, who were reportedly in the running for his services:

The Clippers will now have, in addition to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, two former All-Stars in Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal on their roster. The star power on this roster is as good as any recent Clippers roster with Paul George on it.

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