Ex-NBA Champion Makes Bold Bradley Beal Statement Amid Buyout Rumors
It has been a very busy offseason for the Phoenix Suns as they have elected to shake up their roster and retool it around Devin Booker.
Of course, this came after they failed to make the playoffs last season, which signaled to their front office that a change was needed, especially with their star trio of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Phoenix began their offseason by trading Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and five second-round picks.
With this move, the Suns officially ended the big three era in Phoenix, leaving just Booker and Beal together heading into next season.
While that may be the case, it is likely that Beal is on his way out of Phoenix as well as it has been reported that he and the Suns are nearing a contract buyout that would make him a free agent after they failed to find a trade partner for him.
With these reports, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins made a bold statement about Beal and his potential impact on another team's roster.
'Bradley still got a lot left in the tank,' Perkins said. 'He was just in a bad situation.'
Perkins does make a compelling point about Beal being put in a bad situation in Phoenix as not only has he dealt with injuries during his time with the franchise, but his fit next to Booker and Butler was questionable and eventually did not work out.
Of course, Beal put together a solid season last year after he was moved to the bench where he became the focal point of the offense, which was reminiscent of his time with the Washington Wizards.
With him now likely being on the move this summer, he will look to sign with a team where he will have a larger role on offense, which was never the case during his time with the Suns.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
a minute ago
- CNN
LeBron James reportedly expected to remain with Lakers
Despite an offseason of rumors and speculation, LeBron James is expected to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025-26 season, The Athletic reported Wednesday. The Lakers and James have not engaged in talks about a trade or buyout, and the NBA's all-time leading scorer is expected to report to camp with the Lakers this fall, per the report. There haven't been any signs, either, that James wants out. James picked up his $52.6 million option last month to return for an eighth season with the Lakers. He will be returning to a team this time around on which, for the first time in his career, he is the second option. Luka Dončić, acquired in a stunning trade from the Dallas Mavericks in February, is expected to be the centerpiece for Los Angeles in the upcoming season. Apparently fueling the trade or buyout rumors is a statement made by James' longtime agent, Rich Paul, last month that included this line, 'We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.' Trading James, given his salary, would be difficult since NBA trades must be for players with contracts of similar value due to the salary cap. The Lakers, according to The Athletic, also are reluctant to take on a player earning in the $50 million range if he has additional years on the contract. The Lakers will be free of James' $52.6 million once his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. James, 40, is entering his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He has played in 1,562 regular-season games and is 50 shy of breaking Hall of Fame member Robert Parish's NBA record. James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games in 2024-25 to rank in the top 22 in each category. He is a 21-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion. He has scored a record 42,184 regular-season points, and 50,473 in the regular season and playoffs combined. James entered the NBA as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.
CNN
30 minutes ago
- CNN
LeBron James reportedly expected to remain with Lakers
Despite an offseason of rumors and speculation, LeBron James is expected to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025-26 season, The Athletic reported Wednesday. The Lakers and James have not engaged in talks about a trade or buyout, and the NBA's all-time leading scorer is expected to report to camp with the Lakers this fall, per the report. There haven't been any signs, either, that James wants out. James picked up his $52.6 million option last month to return for an eighth season with the Lakers. He will be returning to a team this time around on which, for the first time in his career, he is the second option. Luka Dončić, acquired in a stunning trade from the Dallas Mavericks in February, is expected to be the centerpiece for Los Angeles in the upcoming season. Apparently fueling the trade or buyout rumors is a statement made by James' longtime agent, Rich Paul, last month that included this line, 'We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.' Trading James, given his salary, would be difficult since NBA trades must be for players with contracts of similar value due to the salary cap. The Lakers, according to The Athletic, also are reluctant to take on a player earning in the $50 million range if he has additional years on the contract. The Lakers will be free of James' $52.6 million once his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. James, 40, is entering his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He has played in 1,562 regular-season games and is 50 shy of breaking Hall of Fame member Robert Parish's NBA record. James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games in 2024-25 to rank in the top 22 in each category. He is a 21-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion. He has scored a record 42,184 regular-season points, and 50,473 in the regular season and playoffs combined. James entered the NBA as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warriors rumors: What Golden State offered Bradley Beal before Clippers deal
The post Warriors rumors: What Golden State offered Bradley Beal before Clippers deal appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Golden State Warriors were reportedly among the teams that pursued Bradley Beal in free agency but were unwilling to offer more than a veteran minimum contract, according to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel. Beal ultimately signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers after reaching a buyout with the Phoenix Suns. Despite interest from multiple contenders, the Warriors' limited financial offer appears to have removed them from serious consideration. Siegel reported on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Golden State joined other cap-tight teams in offering only the minimum. 'Golden State also wasn't willing to offer more than the minimum,' Siegel wrote. According to the same report, the Milwaukee Bucks made a 'very strong push' to land Beal and were viewed as a serious option. The Miami Heat, after trading for Norman Powell, were also limited to offering a minimum contract. Beal, 32, became a free agent after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Suns. He had two years remaining on his deal but exercised his no-trade clause throughout the 2024–25 season, preventing Phoenix from moving him at the deadline. With the buyout finalized, Beal chose to join the Clippers over teams like Milwaukee, Miami, and Golden State. Warriors focus on balancing veteran core with cap flexibility after being outbid for Bradley Beal by Clippers The Warriors' reported interest in Beal reflects the franchise's ongoing efforts to reshape the roster around longtime cornerstone Stephen Curry and veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III. Butler was acquired from the Heat in a midseason deal before the team's second-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Golden State has been active this offseason, with ongoing speculation linking the franchise to veteran forward Al Horford. The team is also expected to retain restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, despite earlier sign-and-trade rumors. Kuminga, 22, remains a key part of the Warriors' future plans. Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game in 53 appearances for the Suns last season, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range. He joins a Clippers team led by Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac, as Los Angeles looks to stay competitive in a deep Western Conference. The Warriors, meanwhile, are looking to balance competing in Curry's later years with maintaining financial flexibility and developing young talent. With Beal commanding a salary above the minimum, Golden State opted not to escalate its offer, instead allowing the former All-Star to explore more lucrative and prominent roles elsewhere. Beal's decision to sign with the Clippers also marks a rare instance where Golden State was outbid in free agency, underscoring the front office's more measured approach under the new collective bargaining agreement and escalating luxury tax penalties. Related: Baron Davis issues Warriors a Jonathan Kuminga '1st-Team All-Defense' declaration Related: Warriors' Stephen Curry gives Joe Pavelski props after exciting tournament
