<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-what-devin-booker-really-felt-about-chris-paul-reunion-idea');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: What Devin Booker really felt about Chris Paul reunion idea');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20241203_mjr_su5_034.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: What Devin Booker really felt about Chris Paul reunion idea</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-28T20:44:16-07:00">July 28th, 8:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-28T20:44:16-07:00">July 28th, 8:44pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/suns-rumors-phoenix-devin-booker-jalen-green-plan-fans-asking">Devin Booker may have had interest towards having a reunion</a> with veteran guard Chris Paul.</p><p>Booker and Paul were teammates for three seasons from 2020 to 2023, reaching the NBA Finals in 2021. However, the last two years ended in second-round exits as Phoenix decided to move on from Paul by trading him to the Washington Wizards.</p><p>Paul has represented the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs since moving on from Phoenix. However, NBA insider Marc Stein <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/monday-best-the-latest-hottest-and" rel="noopener">reported that there was interest</a> between Booker and Paul to reunite this offseason before the latter decided to return to the Los Angeles Clippers.</p><p>“Sources say that Suns star Devin Booker was a fan of the idea, too, given how well he and Paul played together during the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals in 2021 and with Phoenix seemingly in need of a proven playmaker after Tyus Jones’ free agent departure to Orlando,” Stein wrote.</p><h2><b>What lies ahead for Devin Booker, Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20241203_mjr_su5_006.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It may have been for the best that the reunion between Devin Booker and Chris Paul didn’t happen for the Suns.</p><p>Phoenix is clearly taking a different direction as they retool the roster to surround Booker with the best supporting cast possible. They parted ways from veteran stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the former via trade and the latter via contract buyout.</p><p>The Suns went through a first-round sweep in 2024 and missed the playoffs altogether this past season, emphasizing the need for them to reset while keeping Booker for the long term.</p><p>They got Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks from the Durant trade with the Houston Rockets, addressing needs they lacked the last few seasons. Phoenix understands that depth is crucial, given their recent issues that ended with them being one of the worst defensive teams in the league.</p><p>Booker’s future with Phoenix is secure after signing a historic contract extension. Aside from that, he can look forward to being the top star while helping the franchise get back to playoff contention.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: What Devin Booker really felt about Chris Paul reunion idea

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-phoenix-devin-booker-jalen-green-plan-fans-asking');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Phoenix’s Devin Booker-Jalen Green ‘plan’ has fans asking questions');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Suns-star-Devin-Booker-against-Spurs.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Phoenix’s Devin Booker-Jalen Green ‘plan’ has fans asking questions</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-24T08:23:33-07:00">July 24th, 8:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-24T08:24:36-07:00">July 24th, 8:24am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns are making waves once again after a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/phoenix-suns-2025-nba-free-agency-grades-every-signing">series of eyebrow-raising moves amid NBA Free Agency</a>. This time, it’s their backcourt blueprint that’s drawing attention. Devin Booker <a href="https://x.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1948187983494226240" rel="noopener">was initially expected to serve</a> as the Suns’ full-time starting point guard for the 2025–26 season, according to a report from John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM. However, that <a href="https://x.com/Gambo987/status/1948379585466581067" rel="noopener">plan has shifted</a>. The Suns now intend to start newly acquired Jalen Green at point guard to open the season. But fans have been asking: what were the Suns thinking?</p><p>The original idea made sense, Booker averaged a career-high 7.1 assists per game last year and continued to develop as a facilitator. But in a surprising turn, Phoenix appears ready to shift gears. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kevin-durant-trade-suns-jalen-green">Suns acquired Jalen Green in an offseason trade with the Houston Rockets</a>, and now he looks poised to take the reins.</p><p>This potential adjustment speaks volumes about how Phoenix view both Green’s upside and Booker’s evolving role. Rather than anchoring Devin Booker to traditional playmaking duties, the Suns seem more inclined to give Green the ball early and often. Green is a natural scorer, and this move will test his capacity to lead an offense.</p><p>However, not all fans are on board with the adjustment.</p><p>“Book ain’t playing off-ball for Green. You actually believe that?,” <a href="https://x.com/SlimReaperS7N/status/1948379776575512724" rel="noopener">quipped</a> @SlimReaperS7N, who pushed back on the idea.</p><p>“Let Jordan Ott decide it, man. Not y’all media,” <a href="https://x.com/thknprjct/status/1948380010932256994" rel="noopener">wrote</a> @thknprjct.</p><p>Still, not everyone disagrees. “How it should be. Jalen looking to get Book the ball as our #1 scorer, with JG learning and developing off Book’s gravity,” @landofbook <a href="https://x.com/landofbook/status/1948380448440078460" rel="noopener">commented</a>.</p><p>It’s a bold move. Green has never played as a true point guard, and although he flashed playmaking skills in Houston, he now faces his most demanding role yet. Booker, for all his offensive brilliance, has long been most effective when paired with a steady distributor. Collin Gillespie could offer that in spurts, but his lack of NBA experience raises questions.</p><p>Still, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-hire-cavs-jordan-ott-as-new-head-coach">Suns have a fresh coaching staff</a> and an aggressive front office determined to retool after last season’s disappointing finish. They’re clearly betting on talent and flexibility over tradition. Time will tell whether this new point guard shuffle elevates Phoenix or sparks early chaos. But one thing’s certain, the Suns aren’t afraid to shake things up.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Phoenix’s Devin Booker-Jalen Green ‘plan’ has fans asking questions

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-chris-paul-3-veteran-stars-not-radar');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: 2 other veterans ‘not on radar’ as Chris Paul joins Clippers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Paul-warms-up.jpg"><figcaption>Scott Wachter-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: 2 other veterans ‘not on radar’ as Chris Paul joins Clippers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-21T08:16:58-07:00">July 21st, 8:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-21T08:19:35-07:00">July 21st, 8:19am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s been a busy offseason thus far <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/phoenix-suns-biggest-mistake-in-2025-nba-free-agency">for the Phoenix Suns</a>, who have traded Kevin Durant, signed Devin Booker to a mammoth extension, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-mat-ishbia-breaks-silence-bradley-beal-buyout-2">bought out Bradley Beal</a>, among other moves so far in 2025. It’s all been a part of a larger effort to help restructure their team around Devin Booker and give themselves some much-needed flexibility moving forward.</p><p>One name that has come up as a possible free agent target for the Suns is their former point guard, Chris Paul. However, on Monday, Paul signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, per Shams Charania of ESPN.</p><p>However, recently, Duane Rankin of AZ Central <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/07/21/phoenix-suns-roster-update/85298842007/" rel="noopener">dumped cold water</a> on the idea of the Suns signing Paul, among other notable free agents.</p><p>“The Suns don’t have veteran free agents like point guards Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook or power forward Al Horford on their radar, league sources informed The Republic,” reported Rankin.</p><p>Rankin also reported that the Suns are “good with their current roster.”</p><p>It had been reported previously by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel that another one of Paul’s former teams, the Los Angeles Clippers, are<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-rumors-chris-paul-signing-bradley-beal"> the most likely landing spot</a> this offseason for the future Hall of Famer.</p><p>“What I’d say about Chris is he’s a great player and he’s a great Clipper,” Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank recently said, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-chris-paul-being-strongly-considered-by-la-as-free-agent-option">per Tomer Azarly</a>. “He obviously possesses some of the qualities we just referenced. Of course, we’re strongly strongly considering him.”</p><p>The Suns reportedly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-beat-out-suns-marcus-smart">had interest in</a> Marcus Smart before the point guard signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, per NBA insider Marc Stein.</p><h2><b>An eventful offseason</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Chris-Paul-in-a-Suns-jersey.jpg"><figcaption>© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In exchange for Durant, the Suns brought back a package centered around Jalen Green. Meanwhile, the Beal buyout gives them a small amount of roster flexibility heading into this season which they didn’t have previously.</p><p>Still, the Suns figure to have one of the bleakest future outlooks in the NBA, especially considering that the majority of their draft picks for the foreseeable future will be heading elsewhere.</p><p>In any case, the Suns’ season is slated to begin in October.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: 2 other veterans ‘not on radar’ as Chris Paul joins Clippers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-suns-celtics-added-list-ben-simmons-suitors');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns, Celtics added to list of Ben Simmons suitors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clippers-guard-Ben-Simmons.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns, Celtics added to list of Ben Simmons suitors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-21T06:45:02-07:00">July 21st, 6:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-21T06:45:02-07:00">July 21st, 6:45am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints, who also covers the NBA and MLB. He received his Masters in Business Administration Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Nichols College. Previously, ran his own website, and had bylines at FanSided, Basketball Network, Athlon Sports, and The Sporting News. In addition to his work at ClutchPoints, Owen is also a Breaking News Writer at Heavy and a Content Producer for More Views Media.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The majority of the big moves of the NBA offseason have already been made, but there is still a solid crop of players available in free agency who could help out playoff-contending teams. One of those names is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-sign-ben-simmons-someone-else-final-roster-spot">Ben Simmons</a>, and while his stock has taken some serious hits in recent seasons, he’s seen the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics emerge as the two most recent teams with interest in him.</p><p>Simmons put himself back on the map last season by suiting up for 51 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-rumors-new-york-checks-in-with-ben-simmons">New York Knicks</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-news-ben-simmons-named-potential-sacramento-free-agent-target">Sacramento Kings</a> checked in on him earlier this offseason, it now sounds like the Suns are the <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-the-latest-hottest-and?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=168821876&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">latest team</a> to take a look at him, with the Celtics also doing their due diligence on the three-time All-Star.</p><p>“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento,” Marc Stein reported.</p><h2><b>Ben Simmons continuing to draw interest in free agency</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ben-Simmons-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Simmons isn’t the same player who was one of the top two-way guards in the league back at the start of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he still has something to offer in the right role for a contending team. Last season, Simmons averaged five points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, while also still playing lockdown defense on the perimeter.</p><p>Considering his upside, it’s not a shock to see Simmons generating interest, but there are reasonable injury concerns surrounding him, even though he managed to play in 50-plus games last season. With the Suns and Celtics joining the race for Simmons’ signature, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him latch on with a new team in the near future.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns, Celtics added to list of Ben Simmons suitors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-beat-out-suns-marcus-smart');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Lakers beat out Suns for Marcus Smart');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Grizzlies-guard-Marcus-Smart-36-heads-down-court-after-a-3-point-basket-against-the-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Lakers beat out Suns for Marcus Smart</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-21T06:31:18-07:00">July 21st, 6:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-21T08:00:48-07:00">July 21st, 8:00am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-part-ways-key-rotation-piece-marcus-smart-move">Marcus Smart is taking his talents next to Hollywood</a>, as he is expected to join Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards.</p><p>Doncic is said to have a crucial role in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-luka-doncic-la-marcus-smart">Smart’s decision to choose the Lakers</a> as he’s next landing spot. If not for the Slovenian’s convincing power, the former Defensive Player of the Year <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-the-latest-hottest-and?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=168821876&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">could have opted to join another Pacific Division club</a> in the Phoenix Suns, as implied in a recent piece by NBA insider Marc Stein.</p><p>Wrote Stein: “I’m told that the recent Dončić pitch, once Washington granted the 31-year-old and his agent Jason Glushon permission to talk to other teams in search of a post-buyout landing spot, particularly resonated with Smart and helped lead the former Defensive Player of the Year to choose the Lakers over a determined push by the Suns to land the former Celtic.”</p><p>Although he’s not exactly known for being a productive player on offense, Smart carries the reputation of being one of the best and most versatile defenders of his generation. He appears to be someone who can fit nicely alongside Doncic in the Lakers’ backcourt. Smart can help hide the defensive weaknesses of Doncic, particularly out on the perimeter. Moreover, Smart also has proven abilities to hold his own against bigger players defensively.</p><p>If Smart can stay healthy, he should be a quality asset for the Lakers. Over the last two seasons, however, he has been limited by injuries to only 54 games, while putting up averages of 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor and 33.1 percent from behind the arc.</p><p>The former Oklahoma State Cowboys star won the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year when he was still with the Boston Celtics and before he was traded twice. He was sent by the Celtics to the Memphis Grizzlies in the summer of 2023 as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Wizards. Then just before the 2025 NBA trade deadline, the Grizzlies traded him to the Wizards in a three-team swap which also featured the Sacramento Kings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Lakers beat out Suns for Marcus Smart

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/nba-rumors-suns-interested-in-jonathan-kuminga-but-its-challenging');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns interested in Jonathan Kuminga, but it’s ‘challenging’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonathan-Kuminga.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns interested in Jonathan Kuminga, but it’s ‘challenging’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-17T09:22:22-07:00">July 17th, 9:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-17T14:27:25-07:00">July 17th, 2:27pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/clippers-news-bradley-beal-officially-suns-buyout-sign-la">Suns have been making some big changes</a> this offseason, and it’s obvious that they’re going in a different direction than they were in the past few years. Everything still revolves around Devin Booker, as his recent extension shows, but the team around him won’t look the same.</p><p>In an attempt to get younger and more athletic, the team has made the necessary moves to do so, and they don’t seem to be done, as <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-on-the-nbas-complicated?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=168556852&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">their next target</a> is Jonathan Kuminga, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.</p><p>“Fresh off completing a buyout of Bradley Beal this week, enabling the Suns to waive-and-stretch the hefty contract possessed by the three-time NBA All-Star guard, they have contacted both Kuminga’s representation and the Warriors to make their fondness for the bouncy swingman known,” Fischer wrote.</p><p>“The Suns, to be clear, do not appear to possess the sort of draft capital or players that Golden State is believed to be seeking in exchange for Kuminga.</p><p>“Yet, he certainly did come up in trade talks between the teams during the season, sources say, when the Warriors were pursuing the re-acquisition of Kevin Durant. Rather than reunite Durant and Stephen Curry before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, Golden State ultimately acquired Jimmy Butler instead.”</p><p>It looks like the Suns are ready to revisit these talks, but there may be one thing holding the Warriors back from making a deal. The one contract the Suns will try to get off is Grayson Allen, but the Warriors don’t want it, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.</p><p>Kuminga would be a nice addition to the Suns, and he will give them much-needed wing depth and size. It’s uncertain if the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-rumors-jonathan-kuminga-desired-salary-warriors-dont-want-pay">Warriors plan on keeping Kuminga</a> or if they may be waiting for the right deal to trade him. As of now, he’ll continue to be a restricted free agent, and his market will have to keep playing out as the offseason goes on.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns interested in Jonathan Kuminga, but it’s ‘challenging’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-how-new-coach-tried-to-convince-bradley-beal-to-stay');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: How new coach tried to convince Bradley Beal to stay');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bradley-Beal_859e0b.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: How new coach tried to convince Bradley Beal to stay</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-17T09:14:07-07:00">July 17th, 9:14am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-17T09:14:07-07:00">July 17th, 9:14am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Clippers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>New <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-hire-cavs-jordan-ott-as-new-head-coach">Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott</a> reportedly made an effort to convince Bradley Beal to remain with the franchise before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clippers-news-bradley-beal-officially-suns-buyout-sign-la">veteran guard agreed to a contract buyout</a> on Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Ott met with Beal shortly after his hiring in June and <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45758601/how-bradley-beal-phoenix-suns-finalized-their-contentious-divorce" rel="noopener">presented a plan for a renewed role</a> with the team heading into the 2025–26 NBA season.</p><p>“After new head coach Jordan Ott was hired in early June after a protracted search, he met with Beal and presented him a plan for how he could be used next season, sources said,” Windhorst reported. “Beal is coming off a season in which his usage rate was the lowest of his career, his role diminishing under former coach Mike Budenholzer, who even took him out of the starting lineup for a six-week stretch.”</p><p>Beal’s decreased role last season was a source of frustration, and the meeting with Ott was part of a late attempt to salvage the relationship. Ott’s approach reportedly emphasized how the Suns could reintegrate Beal more prominently into their offensive system. Despite the coaching change, however, Beal had already begun considering an exit from Phoenix.</p><p>“Ott, in his sales pitch to Beal, indicated the Suns had not totally given up on the concept of bringing him back next season,” Windhorst added. “With two years and $113 million left on his contract and a no-trade clause — which had totally undercut the Suns’ ability to deal him last winter — such a concept wasn’t surprising.”</p><h2><b>Bradley Beal joins Clippers after buyout despite Jordan Ott’s attempt to keep him with Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Beal-and-Harden.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While Beal appreciated the gesture, Windhorst noted that postseason meetings with his agent, Mark Bartelstein, contributed to his decision to leave the franchise if the right opportunity emerged.</p><p>“We couldn’t take the chance [of another lost year],” Bartelstein told ESPN. “This decision was about basketball. Bradley wants to play in big games and in big moments.”</p><p>Beal, 32, averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game last season while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc. He played in 53 games for Phoenix in his second year with the team.</p><p>After finalizing the buyout, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-kendrick-perkins-drops-nothing-take-on-la-bradley-beal-signing">Beal signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers</a>, where he will join a veteran core led by Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac. The Clippers are looking to strengthen their playoff positioning in a competitive Western Conference.</p><p>The Suns, meanwhile, continue to retool their roster after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/nba-rumors-brian-windhorst-confirms-timberwolves-kevin-durant-trade-offer">trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in June</a>. The departure of Beal, along with the new direction under Ott, signals a broader shift in philosophy as the team moves on from the past two seasons’ failed experiment with a three-star model.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: How new coach tried to convince Bradley Beal to stay

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/nba-rumors-brian-windhorst-confirms-timberwolves-kevin-durant-trade-offer');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Brian Windhorst confirms Timberwolves’ Kevin Durant trade offer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kevin-Durant-and-Anthony-Edwards.jpg"><figcaption>Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Brian Windhorst confirms Timberwolves’ Kevin Durant trade offer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-17T08:06:27-07:00">July 17th, 8:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-17T08:06:27-07:00">July 17th, 8:06am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>ESPN’s Brian Windhorst confirmed Thursday that the Minnesota Timberwolves <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45758601/how-bradley-beal-phoenix-suns-finalized-their-contentious-divorce" rel="noopener">made a formal trade offer</a> for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/kevin-durant-trade-grades-rockets-suns-after-blockbuster-deal">Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant before he was ultimately dealt to the Houston Rockets</a> in June.</p><p>According to Windhorst, the Timberwolves’ proposal included a package centered around veteran center Rudy Gobert, guard Donte DiVincenzo, rookie forward Terrence Shannon Jr., and the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Suns reportedly held in-depth discussions with Minnesota before shifting course.</p><p>“Before taking the Rockets offer, the Suns had in-depth discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about moving Durant for a package that included star center Rudy Gobert, guard Donte DiVincenzo, promising forward Terrence Shannon Jr. and the 17th pick in this year’s draft,” Windhorst wrote in his latest report. “Sources told ESPN.”</p><p>The deal did not advance due to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/nba-rumors-timberwolves-playing-hardball-in-kevin-durant-trade">Durant’s lack of interest in joining the Timberwolves</a>. While he did not hold a no-trade clause, Durant’s influence over trade discussions played a factor, particularly with only one year remaining on his contract.</p><p>“Durant had made it known that the Wolves were not on his short list of preferred teams,” Windhorst reported. “And with just one season left on his contract, Durant had leverage. The talks faded.”</p><h2><b>Timberwolves’ offer for Kevin Durant could’ve kept Bradley Beal with Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kevin-Durant-Bradley-Beal-and-Devin-Booker-walk-to-the-court.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-thanasis-antetokounmpo-major-declaration-kevin-durant-trade">Suns ultimately completed a trade with the Rockets</a> that returned a younger core highlighted by guard Jalen Green. Windhorst noted that had the Suns accepted Minnesota’s offer, they may have prioritized retaining Bradley Beal in the aftermath.</p><p>“Had that deal come to fruition, there was a place for Beal in the lineup, and the Suns might’ve made it a priority to keep him,” Windhorst added.</p><p>Instead, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clippers-news-bradley-beal-officially-suns-buyout-sign-la">Suns reached a contract buyout with Beal</a>, who later <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/grading-bradley-beal-11-million-clippers-contract-after-suns-buyout">signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers</a>.</p><p>Durant, 36, averaged 26.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season while shooting 52.4% from the field and 41.2% from three. He now joins a Rockets team led by Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson, as Houston looks to transition from a rebuilding phase to playoff contention.</p><p>Minnesota, meanwhile, was exploring ways to upgrade its roster following a run to the Western Conference Finals. The franchise has remained committed to building around Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle but was open to moving Gobert in the right deal. DiVincenzo was a key contributor in their playoff rotation, and Shannon Jr., selected in the first round, was viewed as a promising long-term piece.</p><p>Windhorst’s report offers rare confirmation of the Timberwolves’ aggressive pursuit of Durant and provides further insight into one of the most impactful trade negotiations of the NBA offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Brian Windhorst confirms Timberwolves’ Kevin Durant trade offer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-the-next-step-bradley-beal-buyout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: The ‘next step’ after Bradley Beal buyout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Former-Suns-guard-Bradley-Beal-against-Spurs.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: The ‘next step’ after Bradley Beal buyout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-17T07:21:22-07:00">July 17th, 7:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-17T08:51:57-07:00">July 17th, 8:51am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns have officially hit reset with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clippers-news-bradley-beal-officially-suns-buyout-sign-la">Bradley Beal agreeing to a buyout in NBA Free Agency</a>. The buyout saves the Suns nearly $14 million and <a href="https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2025/07/17/chris-paul-unlikely-to-return-to-suns/85253701007/" rel="noopener">clears major financial space</a>, marking a new chapter. Beal’s exit lets the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-phoenix-stomach-5-years-dead-bradley-beal-money">Suns stretch his remaining contract over five years</a>, easing pressure from the NBA’s strict salary aprons.</p><p>As a result, now roughly $8.6 million below the first apron and over $20 million under the second, Phoenix have room to reshape the roster. Furthermore, the buyout opens access to the full $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception. This gives them a chance to target veteran help, likely in the backcourt.</p><p>This marks a turning point for a team that once stacked its roster with stars. Most notably, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-phoenix-thanks-kevin-durant-after-trade-rockets">Suns recently traded Kevin Durant to Houston</a> in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and future assets. Now, with Beal also gone, Devin Booker becomes the central figure of a more balanced and youthful rebuild.</p><p>As a result, expect Phoenix to use its newfound flexibility to pursue a steady veteran guard. Names like Monte Morris or Patty Mills could come into play as Phoenix look to surround Booker with reliable playmaking and leadership.</p><p>Meanwhile, the frontcourt is already seeing changes. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-phoenix-trades-for-mark-williams-drafts-khaman-maluach-moments-apart">Suns recently acquired Mark Williams</a> to add much-needed size. In addition, the Suns plan to give young talents like Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming more minutes off the bench. Looking ahead, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-hire-cavs-jordan-ott-as-new-head-coach">Suns signed  Jordan Ott as head coach in early June</a>. Ott will lead the effort to build chemistry around Booker, Collin Gillespie, and the new supporting cast.</p><p>As for Chris Paul, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-suns-clippers-considered-chris-paul-free-agency-finalists">rumors of a reunion are quickly being dismissed</a>. Reports indicate that a return to Phoenix is highly unlikely, and the Suns appear more inclined to develop younger options like Gillespie moving forward.</p><p>The Bradley Beal buyout wasn’t just about shedding salary, it’s the catalyst for a smarter, more flexible Suns rebuild. With cap space, a retooled roster, and a clearer vision, the Suns are ready for the next phase. Will the Suns make another splash in NBA Free Agency?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: The ‘next step’ after Bradley Beal buyout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-phoenix-stomach-5-years-dead-bradley-beal-money');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Why Phoenix will stomach 5 years of dead Bradley Beal money');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ex-Phoenix-Suns-guard-Bradley-Beal.jpg"><figcaption>Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Why Phoenix will stomach 5 years of dead Bradley Beal money</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-16T12:34:57-07:00">July 16th, 12:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-17T07:11:26-07:00">July 17th, 7:11am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clippers-news-bradley-beal-officially-suns-buyout-sign-la">Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal agreed to a contract buyout</a> that sees the organization eating five years’ worth of dead money. At first glance, that doesn’t appear to be a great deal for Phoenix; however, the latest rumors potentially reveal the reasoning behind it.</p><p>It was announced that the Suns plan to waive and stretch Beal’s contract <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1945543311508582643" rel="noopener">over a five-year span</a>, according to insider Brett Siegel. The Suns will have $19.4 million in dead money over the next five seasons.</p><p>“It is expected that the Suns will ultimately elect to waive-and-stretch Bradley Beal’s remaining contract over five years. This means he would be on the books for $19.4 million each season over the next five years as a dead cap hit. Phoenix has until August to decide.”</p><p>Rumors suggest the reason why the Suns are willing to accept that much in dead money is <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45755171/bradley-beal-agrees-buyout-suns-join-clippers" rel="noopener">because it gives the organization</a> “increased team-building flexibility,” per ESPN’s Shams Charania. It takes Phoenix out of the first and second apron and also gives the club more draft picks down the road.</p><p>“It also gives the Suns increased team-building flexibility by taking them out of the first and second apron, providing access to more tradable draft picks in the future, and opening up part of the midlevel exception.”</p><p>Insider Keith Smith, who also contributes to Spotrac, shared more details about how the Suns’ decision to take on Bradley Beal’s dead money helps them out. Phoenix <a href="https://x.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1945550441615614384" rel="noopener">will be under</a> the luxury tax, along with the first and second apron.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Phoenix Suns tax/apron situation after an assumed waive-and-stretch of Bradley Beal:</p><p>🏀$2.1M under the luxury tax<br>🏀$8.6M under the first apron<br>🏀$20.5M under the second apron</p><p>— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1945550441615614384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Beal leaves the Suns, who will inevitably enter a rebuild with Devin Booker leading the way. The veteran guard ultimately decided to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, despite the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-milwaukee-immediate-move-whiffing-bradley-beal">making a strong push for Bradley Beal</a>.</p><p>Things didn’t end well in Phoenix for Beal, so a fresh start could reignite his career once again. He ended his final season with the Suns averaging 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the three-point line.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Why Phoenix will stomach 5 years of dead Bradley Beal money

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-devin-booker-fully-immersed-in-wake-of-kevin-durant-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Devin Booker ‘fully immersed’ with Phoenix in wake of Kevin Durant trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Suns-star-Devin-Booker-calls-a-play.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Devin Booker ‘fully immersed’ with Phoenix in wake of Kevin Durant trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-13T10:07:32-07:00">July 13th, 10:07am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-13T10:07:32-07:00">July 13th, 10:07am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A newer version of the Phoenix Suns should be expected for the 2025-26 season. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/grading-devin-booker-145-million-suns-contract-extension">Devin Booker signing a massive contract extension</a>, he’s the head of the snake, with a new supporting cast around him.</p><p>After Phoenix landed Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Khaman Maluach in exchange for Kevin Durant, the Suns are going with a youth movement.</p><p>Not to mention, guys like Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn are in their sophomore seasons and are looking to be major contributors.</p><p>In an interview with PHNX Suns, NBA insider Shams Charania detailed that Booker is <a href="https://x.com/PHNX_Suns/status/1944204784166481932" rel="noopener">ready to go</a> with this new team.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> tells <a href="https://twitter.com/PHNX_Suns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PHNX_Suns</a> Devin Booker is fully bought in to the Suns new direction after the Kevin Durant trade, and he has been working out with his new teammates ⬇️</p><p>"He's fully immersed himself with this team." <a href="https://t.co/lCmKS3so19">pic.twitter.com/lCmKS3so19</a></p><p>— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHNX_Suns/status/1944204784166481932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“You’re seeing a team change its direction from a veteran-laden team, to a team that’s more scrappy, a younger team, and (Devin) Booker committing to that,” Charania said. “I’m told he’s been working out with players on the Suns, the last two weeks.</p><p>So he’s fully immersed himself with this team. With Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the whole Phoenix Suns team flew out to Vegas to be a part of his moment. I think it speaks a lot to the camaraderie.”</p><h2><b>Devin Booker loves what the Suns are building</b></h2><p>The 2025 NBA Draft was a <a href="https://burncitysports.com/2025/07/08/phoenix-suns-khaman-maluach-fleming/" rel="noopener">true slam dunk</a> for general manager Brian Gregory. For instance, he landed Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea.</p><p>The latter lit up his first Summer League game, hitting four 3-point shots. Furthermore, the team has a scrappy element to them. Every player has a chip on their shoulder, even Booker himself has something to prove.</p><p>While the team has some work to do, they have key pieces. As Charania mentioned, nearly every member of the Suns were in attendance at the Summer League. That alone is a promising sign of what’s to come.</p><p>This past season, chemistry was fickle, especially after previous head coach Mike Budenholzer told <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-how-devin-booker-louder-voice-problem-mike-budenholzer">Booker to tone it down</a>, vocally.</p><p>Now, he might get the green light from new head coach, Jordan Ott.</p><p>Considering that the team is this cohesive with month of the offseason left to go, this is beyond encouraging. During the next two months, it’ll be implementing the schemes Phoenix wants to run.</p><p>They have the pieces, but now, it’s about execution.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Devin Booker ‘fully immersed’ with Phoenix in wake of Kevin Durant trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/suns-rumors-why-bradley-beal-hasnt-been-bought-out-of-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Why Bradley Beal hasn’t been bought out of contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bradley-Beal-Suns-2.jpg"><figcaption> Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Footprint Center.</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Why Bradley Beal hasn’t been bought out of contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-12T14:54:36-07:00">July 12th, 2:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-12T14:54:36-07:00">July 12th, 2:54pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/siegels-scoop-bradley-beal-jonathan-kuminga-nba-summer-league-intel">Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal remain locked in a tense standoff</a> as the expected buyout of the former Washington Wizards star’s massive contract continues to stall. While both parties are reportedly on the same page about parting ways, the holdup centers around financial structure, timing, and leverage, factors that have turned a procedural move into a prolonged saga.</p><p>A <a href="https://x.com/PHNX_Suns/status/1944109602184081696" rel="noopener">major snag in the buyout process</a> is tied to the terms of Beal’s current contract, according to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Beal is owed a 25% advance on his 2025-26 salary, a payment totaling over $13 million, set to be disbursed on July 15. Although he is reportedly guaranteed to receive the sum regardless of his buyout status, it is widely believed Beal is waiting for the payment to process before finalizing any exit from Phoenix.</p><p>The situation has left the Suns in a difficult position. The franchise has been actively trying to move on from Beal since midway through the 2024-25 season, following a souring of the relationship between player and team. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kevin-durant-trade-suns-jalen-green">After trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets</a> earlier this offseason, Phoenix’s next objective became clear: to create cap flexibility by resolving Beal’s situation.</p><p>Phoenix’s front office is highly motivated to execute a buyout deal. If successful, the Suns could remove themselves from the restrictive first and second tax aprons. To achieve this, Beal would be required to return $13.8 million of the nearly $110 million remaining on his contract. This concession would enable Phoenix to waive and stretch the remaining salary across five seasons, saving significant space under the league’s salary cap structure.</p><p>While a resolution appears imminent, Beal appears to be in no rush. Talks have intensified, especially after the Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard, signaling a precedent for high-profile buyouts. But Beal’s full control, thanks to his no-trade clause, means he’s dictating the timeline. Beal is taking his time to explore his options, even as a move to the Los Angeles Clippers appears to be the likeliest outcome.</p><p>The Clippers still hold $5.35 million of their mid-level exception and would remain about $3.5 million below the first tax apron if they signed Beal. This room not only makes a Beal deal viable, but also positions the Clippers to potentially sign veteran guard Chris Paul on a minimum deal.</p><p>Other teams, including the Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Golden State Warriors, have expressed interest, but a minimum contract seems unlikely for Beal. A “1+1” deal with the Clippers, including a player option for 2026, is the expected structure.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Why Bradley Beal hasn’t been bought out of contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-suns-clippers-considered-chris-paul-free-agency-finalists');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns, Clippers considered Chris Paul free agency finalists');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Former-San-Antonio-Spurs-guard-Chris-Paul.jpg"><figcaption>© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns, Clippers considered Chris Paul free agency finalists</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-08T14:36:00-07:00">July 8th, 2:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-08T14:53:58-07:00">July 8th, 2:53pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Clippers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With almost all of the major moves of this year’s NBA free agency complete, few names remain. However, former San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul is still a free agent as he considers his next move. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-chris-paul-hints-final-season-amid-clippers-suns-bucks-rumors">Paul has already hinted that next season will be his last</a>. Despite that and his age, teams want to bring him in, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns.</p><p>Paul is entering his 21st NBA season, but teams still consider him an asset. He is not an All-NBA guard anymore, serving as a veteran leader. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/siegels-scoop-latest-intel-jonathan-kuminga-chris-paul-top-remaining-free-agents">Clippers and Suns are near the top of the list</a>.</p><p>“Although both the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned as suitors for Paul this summer, rival teams expect either the Phoenix Suns or Los Angeles Clippers to sign Paul,” Siegel said.</p><p>Heading to either location would be a reunion for Paul. He helped guide the Clippers to some of the best seasons in the franchise’s history. The guard was the biggest piece of Lob City alongside DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. However, he made the first and <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paulch01.html" rel="noopener">only NBA Finals appearance of his career</a> with the Suns.</p><p>Multiple factors will play a role in Paul’s decision. First of all, the guard’s family has lived in Los Angeles throughout most of his career. The journeyman could choose to sign with the Clippers just to be close to his loved ones.</p><p>On the other hand, the Suns offer him a chance to play a larger role beside Devin Booker, one of his favorite teammates. Depending on what <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-how-bradley-beal-impacts-chris-paul-free-agency-decision">Phoenix’s checkbook looks like after a potential Bradley Beal buyout</a>, the Suns’ offer might not be as lucrative.</p><p>At the end of the day, next season will be Paul’s last. Regardless of where he ends up, his influences goes much further than what he did for the Spurs or any other team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns, Clippers considered Chris Paul free agency finalists

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-bradley-beal-exploring-options-possible-buyout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘exploring options’ amid possible buyout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Apr-9-2025-Phoenix-Arizona-USA-Phoenix-Suns-guard-Bradley-Beal-3-reacts-against-the-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-during-the-second-half-at-Footprint-Center.-Mandatory-Credit-Mark-J.-Rebi.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘exploring options’ amid possible buyout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T19:33:19-07:00">July 6th, 7:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T19:36:33-07:00">July 6th, 7:36pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Bradley Beal and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/suns-rumors-bradley-beal-resolution-imminent">Phoenix Suns might be nearing the end</a> of their relationship this offseason. As a result, the offers he may get would be intriguing to keep track of.</p><p>Beal is in talks of negotiating a buyout with the Suns. He will have to give up a portion of his max salary to make the process a smooth one.</p><p>NBA insider Marc Stein <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1942010813801246992" rel="noopener">provided an update</a> on Beal’s outlook. The veteran guard will consider his options as he will receive significant interest as a free agent.</p><p>“Bradley Beal is actively exploring his options with other teams in anticipation of a Suns buyout, league sources tell @TheSteinLine,” Stein said.</p><p>“There will be considerable interest in Beal once he becomes an unrestricted free agent.”</p><h2><b>What lies ahead for Bradley Beal, Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Apr-9-2025-Phoenix-Arizona-USA-Phoenix-Suns-guard-Bradley-Beal-3-reacts-against-the-Oklahoma-City-Thunderduring-the-first-half-at-Footprint-Center.-Mandatory-Credit-Mark-J.-Rebila.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Bradley Beal’s time with the Suns didn’t go as he would hope.</p><p>Joining the team to form a star trio featuring him, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, it ended up being unsuccessful. They suffered a four-game sweep to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. This past season, they failed to make the playoffs and the play-in tournament after posting a 36-46 record.</p><p>Injuries saw Beal miss 58 games throughout his two years with the squad. In the 106 contests he took part in, he averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and a steal per game. He shot 50.5% from the field, including 40.7% from beyond the arc, and 80.8% from the free-throw line.</p><p>However, Beal was unable to perform up to the star level he had during his days with the Washington Wizards. He earned three All-Star selections and landed on one All-NBA team during the 2020-21 season, which makes his decline from those heights significant.</p><p>Beal can still serve an effective as a starter or off the bench as a sixth man. There are teams that can benefit to improve their depth by adding him, especially if they need consistent scoring and playmaking. How Beal considers his options if he and the Suns complete the buyout will be worth keeping tabs on.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘exploring options’ amid possible buyout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-rockets-kevin-durant-trade-7-team-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade becomes 7-team deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Suns-Kevin-Durant-2.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade becomes 7-team deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T10:42:49-07:00">July 6th, 10:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T10:43:03-07:00">July 6th, 10:43am</time><address><a>Rishav Bhat</a>Rishav is a seasoned NBA and sports journalist and editor with over seven years of experience working for reputed organizations. A novelist first and foremost, he has written three fiction books. His high threshold of knowledge combined with his writing skills gives him the ability to write uniquely insightful pieces across basketball, soccer, cricket, lawn tennis, eSports, and a variety of other sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets have officially finalized what is an NBA-record seven-team trade deal that most prominently sees <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/the-next-trade-rockets-must-make-after-acquiring-kevin-durant-from-suns">Kevin Durant arrive from the Phoenix Suns</a>. Durant becomes the centerpiece on the trade deal that now also involves the likes of the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, in addition to the Suns and Rockets.</p><p>The Rockets and the Suns decided to expand the trade to <a href="https://x.com/FredKatz/status/1941891199482180090" rel="noopener">consolidate a set of previously agreed-upon trades</a>, according to The Athletic’s Fred Katz. The move was made as a result of the seven teams trying to save time on trade calls. Instead of making several trade calls, the decision allows <a href="https://x.com/FredKatz/status/1941883371589685423" rel="noopener">all the deals to be worked into one</a>.</p><p>“This is basically teams trying to save times on trade calls. Instead of having to do a bunch of different trade calls, now they just have to do one. So they worked it into one seven-team deal,” Katz wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><h2><b>Rockets-Suns Kevin Durant trade morphs into seven-team deal</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Suns-superstar-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Atlanta Hawks offloaded Capela, receiving cash consideration, a traded player exception, as well as a 2031 second-round pick swap from the Rockets. Further, the Nets also received two second-round picks, while the Warriors received the rights to Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack.</p><p>The Lakers received the rights to Adou Thiero from the Nets, with the Timberwolves receiving a two second-round picks as well as the rights to Rocco Zikarsky, in addition to a traded player exception for Nickeil Alexander-Walker while covering half of his salary. </p><p>The hefty trade deal becomes an NBA record-setter despite most of the moves not being dependant on each other. The involved teams simply decided to save time and do not receive any financial advantage by integrating all of the above agreements in one single deal. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets’ Kevin Durant trade becomes 7-team deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-bradley-beal-resolution-imminent');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘resolution’ is imminent');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bradley-Beal-Suns-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘resolution’ is imminent</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T10:35:18-07:00">July 6th, 10:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T10:35:18-07:00">July 6th, 10:35am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns appear <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-bradley-beal-discussing-buyout-phoenix">poised to part ways with Bradley Beal</a>, just two seasons after acquiring the three-time All-Star in a high-stakes trade intended to push them over the championship hump.</p><p>The Suns <a href="https://x.com/Gambo987/status/1941885847285993679" rel="noopener">are actively discussing</a> a buyout of Beal’s remaining contract, according to reporting from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Michael Gambadoro.</p><p>The move could be one that carries roughly $110 million over the next two seasons. Regardless, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-bobby-marks-bradley-beal-damian-lillard">cost might be worth it long-term for Phoenix</a>.</p><p>Beal, 32, signed a five-year, $251 million deal with the Washington Wizards in 2022 that included a rare no-trade clause. After being traded to Phoenix in 2023, that clause carried over. It limits the Suns’ ability to explore trade avenues.</p><p>With Beal now open to cooperating on a potential buyout, the Suns see an opportunity to reset financially and strategically, especially after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-bill-simmons-rips-phoenixs-draft-decisions-after-kevin-durant-trade">blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets last month</a>.</p><p>Phoenix, currently more than $10 million over the second apron, is desperately seeking financial relief. The buyout, if agreed upon, would enable the Suns to reduce their cap burden, either through a stretch provision or a more traditional short-term payout. Stretching a buyout of around $90 million over five years would mean carrying approximately $18–22 million annually in dead money, depending on the final number.</p><p>Alternatively, Phoenix could simply eat Beal’s contract over the next two seasons. While painful in the short term, that option avoids complications tied to league rules on stretched contracts and may offer a cleaner long-term path.</p><h2><b>The end of an error for the Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bradley-Beal-Suns-2.jpg"><figcaption>Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Footprint Center.</figcaption></figure><p>Either scenario represents a pivot point for the franchise, especially considering how this all started. When Beal was brought in to form a “Big Three” alongside Devin Booker and Durant, the Suns envisioned title contention. Instead, they went 85-79 across Beal’s two seasons and never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.</p><p>Beal, plagued by injuries, appeared in just 53 games each season. In that stretch, he averaged 17.6 points per game, far from the 30-point scorer he was before signing his max extension.</p><p>Beal’s declining production and inability to stay healthy made his time in Phoenix a mess. He hasn’t played more than 60 games in a season since 2020–21. That’s made him a tough sell on the trade market. Few teams are eager to absorb that kind of salary for a player whose best years appear behind him. Even Miami, always rumored to be interested, may balk due to salary cap concerns that could trigger restrictive penalties.</p><p>It’s not just about shedding salary, it’s about acknowledging a gamble that didn’t pay off. And now, all eyes are on what the Suns will do next, with saying goodbye to Beal feeling inevitable for Phoenix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: Bradley Beal ‘resolution’ is imminent

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-cam-whitmore-nearly-traded-suns-kevin-durant');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets rumors: Cam Whitmore was nearly traded to Suns for Kevin Durant');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rockets-Cam-Whitmore.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Rockets rumors: Cam Whitmore was nearly traded to Suns for Kevin Durant</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T10:21:08-07:00">July 6th, 10:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T12:34:47-07:00">July 6th, 12:34pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In their latest move of an active offseason, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/wizards-acquiring-cam-whitmore-in-trade-with-rockets">Houston Rockets traded guard Cam Whitmore to the Washington Wizards</a> on Saturday afternoon. While the move was somewhat surprising, the Rockets reportedly attempted to include Whitmore in their trade <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kevin-durant-trade-suns-jalen-green">deal with the Phoenix Suns to acquire Kevin Durant</a>.</p><p>Whitmore, 20, is undeniably an asset, but the Rockets appeared determined to cash in on his value before he becomes eligible for an extension in 2026. Houston offered his services to the Suns in addition to Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, but Phoenix <a href="https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1941889674064069061" rel="noopener">preferred taking a slew of second-round picks</a>, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto.</p><p>“Cam Whitmore was nearly traded to the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto tweeted. “Instead, Phoenix opted for more future second-round draft pick compensation. He averaged 10.8 points in 17.4 minutes in two seasons for the Rockets and turns 21 on July 8.”</p><p>Instead, the Rockets traded Whitmore to the Wizards for two second-round picks — one in 2026 and one in 2029. Houston reportedly had multiple offers for Whitmore but wanted to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45678556/sources-rockets-trade-whitmore-wizards-two-seconds" rel="noopener">send him to a team</a> where he has a “legitimate chance to thrive in his career,” per ESPN.</p><p>By joining the Wizards, the Rockets sent Whitmore back to his hometown area. The versatile guard was born and raised in Odenton, Maryland, roughly a 45-minute drive from Washington, D.C.</p><h2><b>Rockets’ new-look roster following Kevin Durant trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kevin-Durant-during-Suns-game.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Without Whitmore on the team, the Rockets furthered their 2025 offseason overhaul. Houston will debut an entirely new team in the fall, with Durant joining Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith as the team’s latest additions.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-fred-vanvleet-sign-50-million-contract-extension">Rockets extended Fred VanVleet</a>, Jabari Smith Jr. and Steven Adams, while re-signing Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green and Aaron Holiday. However, with Green and Brooks departing, Houston loses its leading scorer and best perimeter defender. Durant will certainly replace the scoring that Green provided, but the team will miss Brooks’ daily intensity that was the engine behind their elite defense.</p><p>Following the Durant deal, Houston also waived backup center Jock Landale, who subsequently signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. In total, they return just eight rotational players for the 2025-2026 season, including three starters. They will nonetheless be expected to improve on their 52-30 record from the previous year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets rumors: Cam Whitmore was nearly traded to Suns for Kevin Durant

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-suns-knicks-want-darvin-ham-but-theres-a-bucks-problem');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Suns, Knicks want Darvin Ham, but there’s a Bucks problem');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Darvin-Ham-on-March-22-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Suns, Knicks want Darvin Ham, but there’s a Bucks problem</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T09:39:36-07:00">July 6th, 9:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T09:39:36-07:00">July 6th, 9:39am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mike-brown-next-head-coach-tom-thibodeau-firing"> New York Knicks found their new head coach in Mike Brown</a>, the goal now is to build a staff ahead of next season after the firing of Tom Thibodeau. While it remains to be seen <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mike-brown-hire-means-rick-brunson-other-new-york-assistants">what Knicks assistant coaches remain around Brown</a>, the same question is around the Phoenix Suns as Jordan Ott looks to build a staff with both teams having a reported interest in Darvin Ham.</p><p>The former Los Angeles Lakers head coach is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks under Doc Rivers and is labeled as the top assistant coach for the team. While Phoenix and New York have interest in Ham, according to The Stein Line, Milwaukee is <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-lots-of-fresh-nba-free?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167647434&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">“determined to keep him”</a> unless there was a head coaching gig available, which wouldn’t be the case with the other two teams.</p><p>“Phoenix and now New York — after the hiring of Mike Brown as the Knicks’ new head coach — have expressed interest in trying to hire Darvin Ham away from the Bucks, The Stein Line has learned,” Marc Stein wrote.</p><p>“Yet those would be considered lateral moves for Ham, who is Milwaukee’s top assistant to Doc Rivers,” Stein continued. “I’m told the Bucks love having Ham back in their midst after his two-season stint as the Lakers’ head coach and are determined to keep him in Brewtown unless he secures another head coaching opportunity elsewhere.”</p><p>As mentioned before, Ham was the head coach of the Lakers from 2022 to 2024, as he was fired after his last season when the team ultimately hired former player JJ Redick.</p><h2><b>If not Darvin Ham, Knicks and Suns are looking for a top assistant coach</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Darvin-Ham-makes-a-reaction-from-the-sidelines.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-top-assistant-coach-eyed-ny-mike-brown-staff">Knicks still looking for a top assistant coach</a>, they are not the only team looking for one as besides Brown, Ott in Phoenix, and even Memphis Grizzlies’ Tuomas Iisalo are “all in the market.” Another candidate that Stein mentions for the Knicks is Toronto Raptors assistant coach Phil Handy, as Brown has familiarity with him since they were both on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers at one point.</p><p>“Brown, new Suns head coach Jordan Ott, and Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo, who secured the full-time post in Memphis after his nine-game (plus playoffs) interim stint last season, are all in the market for a No. 1 assistant,” Stein wrote.</p><p>“As I reported Friday, New York is expected to pursue former Lakers, Cavaliers, and Raptors assistant coach Phil Handy for a spot on Brown’s staff after they worked together with both the Cavaliers and Lakers,” Stein continued. “Handy is also a candidate to join Jason Kidd’s staff in Dallas after the departure of God Shammgod to Orlando.”</p><p>At any rate, it remains to be seen what happens with Ham, though it seems likely that he will stay with the Bucks for the foreseeable future. As for the Knicks, they will continue to further improve after finishing third in the East, though they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Suns, Knicks want Darvin Ham, but there’s a Bucks problem

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/nba-rumors-the-timberwolves-center-suns-tried-to-trade-for-before-recent-moves');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: The Timberwolves center Suns tried to trade for before recent moves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Khaman-Maluach-picked-by-Suns.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: The Timberwolves center Suns tried to trade for before recent moves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T09:00:37-07:00">July 6th, 9:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T09:00:37-07:00">July 6th, 9:00am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Timberwolves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After acquiring Mark Williams and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/suns-news-phoenix-trades-for-mark-williams-drafts-khaman-maluach-moments-apart">drafting Khaman Maluach on the same day, the Phoenix Suns</a> are set at center for the foreseeable future. However, before making those moves, the Suns reportedly attempted to trade for Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid.</p><p>Before Reid signed his $125 million extension, he entered the offseason with a $15 million player option in 2025-2026. The Suns unsuccessfully attempted to contact the Timberwolves in hopes of <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-lots-of-fresh-nba-free?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167647434&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">working out a sign-and-trade deal</a>, according to Marc Stein on ‘The Stein Line.’</p><p>“The Suns are well-stocked at center now after their recent trade for Charlotte’s Mark Williams and the draft selection of Duke’s Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 overall pick, but word is that first they tried to engage Minnesota in sign-and-trade discussions for Naz Reid before those moves,” Stein wrote. “The Wolves, of course, wound up signing Reid to a five-year, $125 million contract extension. It’s likely believed that Reid’s deal, with its annual average value of $25 million, helped contribute to Myles Turner’s unexpected desire to leave Indiana for a four-year, $107 million contract with the Bucks.”</p><p>Once the Timberwolves shut the door on Reid, Phoenix turned to its backup plan and sought out Williams. The Hornets made it known they were open to trading Williams when they infamously <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-mark-williams-dalton-knecht-hornets-trade">dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2025 trade deadline</a>, only to have the deal rescinded due to a failed physical.</p><h2><b>Suns’ eventful offseason after failed Naz Reid negotiations</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Naz-Reid.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Blewett-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even if the Suns could not trade for Reid, they have been one of the most active teams in the 2025 offseason. In addition to acquiring Williams, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/kevin-durant-trade-grades-rockets-suns-after-blockbuster-deal">Phoenix also dealt Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets</a> in a historic seven-team deal.</p><p>The Suns received Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the Durant deal, in addition to the No. 10 pick that they used on Maluach. They sent guard Vasilije Micic and the No. 29 pick, which ultimately became UConn forward Liam McNeeley, to the Hornets in exchange for Williams.</p><p>After drafting Maluach, the Suns added intriguing rookie prospects Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round. They subsequently released veteran forward Cody Martin days after their eventful draft night.</p><p>Phoenix entered the offseason without much flexibility, owing Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal over $50 million each in 2025-2026. Yet, after another disappointing season, they were among the teams expected to be the most active in the trade market.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: The Timberwolves center Suns tried to trade for before recent moves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-bradley-beal-discussing-buyout-phoenix');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: Bradley Beal discussing buyout with Phoenix');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bradley-Beal_a57553.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: Bradley Beal discussing buyout with Phoenix</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-03T15:26:45-07:00">July 3rd, 3:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-03T15:42:42-07:00">July 3rd, 3:42pm</time><address><a>Kendall Capps</a>Kendall Capps is a multi-media journalist and editor who is overly passionate about all sports (to his wife's dismay). He's a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints who previously managed SB Nation's golf vertical. He has also done work for FantasyPros and co-hosted the Lay The Points podcast as part of a decade-long career in sports entertainment.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns appear to be at a major crossroads. Their Big 3 experiment with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal did not go as planned. During the two-plus seasons they were part of the Suns organization together, they were rarely on the court at the same time. That culminated in Phoenix missing out on even the Play-In tournament this past season.</p><p>One of the biggest questions facing the Suns this offseason is what to do with Beal. Well, it appears we might have an answer.</p><p>The Suns are reportedly discussing buying Bradley Beal <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/07/03/phoenix-suns-discussing-possible-bradley-beal-buyout/84464670007/" rel="noopener">out of his contract</a>, according to The Arizona Republic. The three-time All-Star has two years remaining on his current deal, with $110 million still owed. He initially signed a 5-year, $251 million deal with a no-trade clause. That clause might have kept Phoenix from moving on the way they would have preferred.</p><p>Instead, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns-perfect-outcome-no-10-pick-2025-nba-draft-kevin-durant-trade">Suns traded future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets</a>. In return, the Suns got much younger. They landed Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick in last week’s NBA Draft. They used <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/suns-news-phoenix-trades-for-mark-williams-drafts-khaman-maluach-moments-apart">that pick to select Khaman Maluach</a>.</p><p>If Phoenix goes down this road with Beal, he will become a free agent. Any free agent can sign a new contract starting on July 6. But it remains to be seen what kind of market would exist for the oft-injured guard out of Florida.</p><p>Beal has only started 141 games over the last three seasons. In other words, 141 starts covering 246 games, just over 50%. Even when he was on the court, his efficiency and overall production fell precipitously.</p><p>In 2021, Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points per game. That dropped to just over 23 points per game during his final two seasons with the Washington Wizards before signing in Phoenix. While struggling to stay on the court, Beal averaged 18 and 17 points over the last two seasons, respectively.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Phoenix
Suns RUMORS

PHOENIX

SUNS

PhoenixSuns RUMORS

PHOENIX

SUNS

Phoenix
Suns RUMORS