On the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show, the analyst said he thinks the Suns will waive-and-stretch Bradley Beal's contract next week, and that the 32-year-old will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Lowe didn't give an exact date, but the move is coming. Phoenix has tried to trade Beal, but he has a no-trade clause. Even if the no-trade clause weren't an issue, Beal's contract would be. He's set to make $53.7 million next season and has a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27. There is no way he'd opt out of that if he stayed with the Suns.
Phoenix's mismanagement could turn into LA's gain, as the Clippers will sign Beal for a significantly cheaper price than the Suns will have him on the books for.
Los Angeles has an opening for a starting shooting guard after trading Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team deal with Utah. Beal isn't a bad player by any means (just overpaid), so the hope is he'll be able to replace some of the scoring the Clippers lost by trading Powell. There are concerns about Beal's health, but again, it's not like LA will be paying him $50+ million.
Zach Lowe thinks Bradley Beal will sign with Clippers next week
Beal desperately needs a clean slate after spending the past two seasons with the Suns. Mat Ishbia orchestrated the trade for the guard, thinking that it gave Phoenix a Big Three with Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. How did that work out? A first-round playoff exit and missing the postseason entirely.
Beal isn't the player that he used to be with the Wizards, but he still has value. It will be great for him to leave the toxicity of his situation in Phoenix behind and re-prove himself with the Clippers. Don't be surprised if an entirely different version of Beal shows up in LA.
The Clippers are one of several teams named potential landing spots for Beal, a list that also included the Lakers, Bucks, and Heat (until they acquired Powell). He's right to want to go to the Clippers over the Lakers.
It shouldn't be too much longer until the notification hits that Beal and the Suns agreed to a buyout, paving the way for his move from Phoenix to Los Angeles.