Bradley Beal leaves Phoenix, giving Suns cap relief

• He's expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Why it matters: The move gives the Suns more team-building flexibility by getting them under the first and second aprons of the NBA's salary cap.

• It also helps clear the abundance of high-scoring shooting guards on the Suns' roster, including star Devin Booker and recently acquired Jalen Green.

Flashback: Phoenix got Beal in a 2023 trade with the Washington Wizards, creating the team's "big three" along with Booker and Kevin Durant.

• But the team fell short of expectations at a time when the Suns still had championship aspirations under new owner Mat Ishbia.
• Beal's no-trade clause made it difficult for the Suns to maneuver.

Context: Beal's buyout is the latest in a series of moves reshaping the Suns' roster as Ishbia attempts to reverse the team's downward trajectory, which saw Phoenix miss the playoffs this year despite having the NBA's highest payroll.

• The Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets last month, getting Green, Dillon Brooks and a first-round draft pick they used on center Khaman Maluach.

The Suns also fired head coach Mike Budenholzer and hired Jordan Ott to replace him.