Clippers Land Bradley Beal After Multiple Past Trade Attempts, Lawrence Frank Confirms

NBA Trade Rumors: Clippers Land Bradley Beal After Multiple Past Trade Attempts, Lawrence Frank Confirms

Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank revealed that the team had previously attempted to acquire Bradley Beal twice via trade before finally signing him this offseason.

"Third time's the charm," Frank said, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Beal signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers on Wednesday, which includes a player option for the second year. His signing comes after the Phoenix Suns agreed to a contract buyout, ending Beal's stint in Arizona.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Beal gave up $13.9 million of the remaining $110 million on his Suns contract to finalize the buyout. The Suns are expected to waive and stretch his remaining salary over five years to ease their salary cap burden.

The Clippers' previous trade efforts may have fallen through due to Beal's significant contract, which hampered his trade value. NBA insider Jake Fischer noted in June that league-wide interest in Beal was low, with many teams put off by his salary and inconsistent availability.

Beal, a three-time All-Star, struggled to stay healthy during his time in Phoenix, never playing more than 53 games in a season. Still, he produced efficiently when on the court, averaging 17.6 points and 4.3 assists per game with shooting splits of 50.5% from the field, 40.7% from three, and 80.8% from the free-throw line.

Now on a much more manageable contract, Beal could become a valuable offensive weapon for the Clippers, joining a core that includes James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. His ability to stretch the floor and create plays gives Los Angeles another dimension as they aim for a deep playoff run in the 2025-26 season.