NBA's Los Angeles Clippers are constructing a powerhouse squad.
### Major Shuffles in the NBA: Bradley Beal's Move to the Los Angeles Clippers and Kevin Durant's Trade to the Houston Rockets
In a series of significant moves, the NBA landscape has seen a shake-up with Bradley Beal's departure from the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant's trade to the Houston Rockets.
Bradley Beal, who joined the Suns in 2023 on one of the largest contracts in NBA history, worth approximately €216 million over five years, has agreed to a contract buyout with the team. This decision comes after Beal lost his starting spot last season and the project of forming a formidable trio with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant did not succeed.
The buyout involves Beal reducing his salary by approximately $13.9 million, allowing the Suns to waive and stretch his contract over five seasons. The stretch provision will cost the Suns about $19.4 million per year in dead money from Beal's contract alone. This move significantly reduces the Suns' financial burden, saving over $210 million this season by combining the luxury tax savings with salary reductions.
After clearing waivers, Beal is expected to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year deal worth $11 million. This contract includes a player option for the second year, positioning Beal for potential free agency in the summer of 2027. The Clippers' acquisition of Beal is seen as a strategic move to bolster their lineup alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets in June. The Suns' decision to trade Durant may have been influenced by Beal's performance, as well as the project's lack of success in Phoenix.
The Los Angeles Clippers have further strengthened their roster with the signings of John Collins and Brook Lopez, who were recently signed from the Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. These additions are expected to solidify the Clippers' position in the competitive NBA landscape.
[1] ESPN. (2023). Bradley Beal agrees to contract buyout with Phoenix Suns. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37202238/bradley-beal-agrees-contract-buyout-phoenix-suns
[2] NBA.com. (2023). Bradley Beal agrees to deal with Clippers. [online] Available at: https://www.nba.com/news/bradley-beal-agrees-to-deal-with-clippers
[3] Forbes. (2023). Phoenix Suns Shed Salary Cap Burden By Waiving Bradley Beal. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2023/07/01/phoenix-suns-shed-salary-cap-burden-by-waiving-bradley-beal/
[4] The Athletic. (2023). Report: Bradley Beal agrees to buyout with Suns, will sign with Clippers. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/3609708/2023/07/01/report-bradley-beal-agrees-to-buyout-with-suns-will-sign-with-clippers/
Basketball and sports continue to be the talk of the town in the NBA, as Bradley Beal, a prominent NBA player, agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and is expected to join the Los Angeles Clippers, bolstering their lineup alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Previously, Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, marking a significant shift in the NBA landscape.
