Bradley Beal’s next team is suddenly anyone’s guess, but the Phoenix Suns are still the ones left holding the bill.
Beal declined his $5.6 million player option for the final year of his two-year deal with the L.A. Clippers, turning himself into an unrestricted free agent, according to Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports. The move came on a busy day across the league, with Ja Morant traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and it didn’t draw nearly as much attention as it might have otherwise.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal has declined his $5.6 million player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FCsICEbRgP
- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026
That leaves Beal in a strange spot. He needed hip surgery, which limited his time in Los Angeles to just six games, and his market is far from certain with roster spots disappearing quickly. He actually played more postseason games in Phoenix - four - than he did for the Clippers.
The money, though, is still coming. The Suns owe Beal more than $77 million through 2030, and by then he will have been paid $110 million overall not to play for Phoenix. That’s the reality after the franchise had to waive-and-stretch him following two underwhelming seasons that featured far more time on the treatment table than on the floor.
At this point, Beal can chase the right fit without worrying about his next paycheck. He already has the Suns paying him either way.
There are obvious landing spots if someone wants to take a flyer. The Washington Wizards could bring back one of their former stars on a minimum deal.
The Golden State Warriors, in their pursuit of creating an "All Nursery Home" squad, could decide Beal is worth a spot as the 10th man. Or maybe no team bites at all, which would be awkward but not disastrous for Beal financially.
For Phoenix, it’s another reminder of how expensive this era has been. Waiving Beal was once a necessary move while the team tried to rebuild its culture and settled into a more likable group last season. But with the arrival of Bridges, those good vibes are gone, and the Beal decision looks different now than it did then.
Either way, Beal is set to keep playing on the Suns’ dime for a long time. And for Phoenix, that’s a brutal parting gift.
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