Clippers' Bradley Beal Reportedly Had Interest from 20+ NBA Teams Before Suns Buyout

Before choosing to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers following his contract buyout from the Phoenix Suns, veteran shooting guard Bradley Beal reportedly had a slew of options in front of him.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, sources said that "more than 20 teams showed interest" in Beal after he and his agent were granted permission to speak to other organizations about joining them via buyout. Beal reportedly "met, via Zoom, with half a dozen teams about how he might fit with them" before deciding to join the Clippers.

The Clippers had an opening on the wing after trading Norman Powell to the Miami Heat as part of a three-team deal. Windhorst noted that they "were one of the teams that had already shown interest in Beal and were on his short list," and "talks accelerated" after Powell was shipped away.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and head coach Ty Lue reportedly "spoke to Beal about what the Clippers could offer." Lue "has a long relationship with" Beal, as they are both Missouri natives.

However, Beal was still evaluating options before James Harden emerged as "the key voice" in Los Angeles' pursuit of the 32-year-old, per Windhorst. Sources said Harden "lobbied the Clippers' front office to chase Beal and then reached out to him directly to make the sale." He reportedly "sold Beal on the Clippers' depth" and also "outlined how the Clippers had embraced and helped him pivot in his career after disappointing runs in Brooklyn and Philadelphia damaged his reputation."

Beal is coming off a disappointing tenure in Phoenix in which he didn't make the impact that was expected of him, so he will undoubtedly be motivated to return to his All-Star form in Los Angeles.

"No one wants to be released. There's heartache with that," Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein told Windhorst. "But Bradley wants to be in a position where no one remembers he got released, that they'll remember how he plays next season."