Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[F Gump]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports told ESPN.

@ShamsCharania
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.

Somebody needs to say it. Beal got his 25% huge salary advance yesterday. That's all this buyout was waiting on, for weeks. The next day after, he pulls the trigger on the buyout. 

It's a big cash flow difference, too. IIUC -- In round numbers off the top of my head, he got a check for something like 13M yesterday. His buyout pays off the rest at about 1.2 M a month or so with the 1st payment not until Oct.