Rumors

The Mint Swim USA founder, who recently became an investor in Sereniby, said she and Green weren’t disappointed when they found out they were heading to the Suns after being at the center of trade rumors for weeks. They’re currently house hunting in Phoenix and enjoying the city, but “we haven’t yet decided on one,” said Michele. “Luckily [Phoenix] is an amazing city,” she said. “We were not disappointed with Phoenix at all. But I just need to be supportive of him and of the change and then just try to make things as smooth of a transition [as possible] for him, and not stressing him out with the worries of moving and all that. “He’s not gonna have to lift the finger. I’ll handle all of that so that he can just relax and play basketball. Once he gets there, he won’t have anything else to worry about. And that’s just really what I try to focus on: keeping things convenient and easy for him.”

New York Post

Bradley Beal just joined the Clippers, but he’d already like to stay beyond this upcoming season. Beal recently agreed to a buyout with the Suns and agreed to a two-year deal worth $11 million with the Clippers that includes a player option after the first year. Beal’s agent Mark Bartelstein told Front Office Sports Today that the goal is to opt out and then agree to a longer deal with the Clippers. “Brad did not want to go anywhere where he would be a one-year rental or he would go somewhere where they’re getting a massive talent grab for a year, try to help them win a championship and then move on to somewhere else,” Bartelstein said on FOST. “Brad doesn’t like change. It’s one of the reasons why he stayed in Washington so long. So the goal of this is to go to LA, have an awesome season and then re-sign a long-term deal with the Clippers [next] summer.”

Front Office Sports

Sources say Phoenix, meanwhile, is the latest team to express exploratory interest in a Kuminga sign-and-trade ... challenging as it would be for the Suns to make such a deal happen.

marcstein.substack.com

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, sources told ESPN. 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.

ESPN

Soon after, the Suns gave Beal and Bartelstein permission to speak to other teams about joining them via buyout, the best signal yet that the Beal era in Phoenix was ending. More than 20 teams showed interest, sources said. Eventually Beal met, via Zoom, with half a dozen teams about how he might fit with them.

ESPN

The Suns had hoped to get Beal to leave more money on the table than just the $13.9 million. Talks went back and forth and got heated, sources said. Ultimately, Beal left the least amount possible to make the waiver work, to the penny. "There were some intense conversations," Mark Bartelstein said.

ESPN

According to multiple sources, Booker was very receptive to the Suns’ new direction and had direct input on the type of team they wanted to assemble around him. Every move that Phoenix made was with Booker in mind as the focal point. His long-term commitment to the Suns was matched by their commitment to building a great team around him. Granted, the Suns understand they won’t be contending for a championship this season, and multiple sources acknowledged that expectations are different from three years ago. But despite having lowered title expectations entering the season, they still expect to compete, and Ishbia’s gone on record saying he expects to make the playoffs. The Western Conference is loaded, but either way, they want to establish a different reputation that was sorely lacking last season — one that’s built around several core components Phoenix has mentioned repeatedly over the last few months.

gophnx.com

The key will be putting all that increased flexibility to good use and avoiding that second tax apron again. Freeing up the MLE helps for this summer, but among the remaining free agents, it’s hard to see many needle-movers left. Multiple sources confirmed the Suns’ next step after buying out Beal will be targeting a guard who can play on or off the ball, defend multiple positions and align with the toughness, energy level and basketball IQ Phoenix wants. Those sources also confirmed that a reunion with Chris Paul is highly unlikely, while De’Anthony Melton — someone who fits that description to a tee — is likely to return to the Golden State Warriors. Malcolm Brogdon is another combo guard who’s been linked to multiple teams, but beyond that, the crop of free agency guards includes Gary Payton II, Russell Westbrook, Markelle Fultz, Dalano Banton, Cam Payne and Ben Simmons.

gophnx.com

Bobby Marks: With Bradley Beal being waived, LeBron James is the only player in the NBA with a true no trade clause. Eligibility: 8 years in the NBA and 4 years with the current team A player is not allowed to add a NTC in an extension.

x.com

The Spot Up Shot: Official: The Bucks have signed Cole Anthony & Chris Livingston. The Hornets have signed Drew Peterson to a two-way contract. The Suns have waived Bradley Beal.

x.com

Personnel across several other teams -- including the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, sources said -- pursued Bradley Beal and had extensive conversations with him and Bartelstein in recent weeks.

ESPN

After a two-year run in Phoenix did not work out, the crux of the decision for Beal and his representation was finding the best basketball fit, first and foremost. Beal was granted permission by the Suns to speak to interested teams around the league, sources said. Bartelstein led an exhaustive process over the last several weeks, meeting with teams involved, that allowed Beal to make the decision to part with the Suns and control where he wanted to go.

ESPN

Beal is giving back $13.9 million out of the $110 million on the final two years of his contract to complete the buyout with the Suns, who will likely waive-and-stretch the remaining salary over five years, sources said.

ESPN

Shams Charania: Bradley Beal became extremely excited about the route to part ways after meeting with multiple interested suitors, and Bartelstein then moved forward with the Suns on completing the release Wednesday, opening the path for Beal to start a new chapter in LA.

x.com