Bradley Beal has yet another reason to regret leaving Suns for Los Angeles

The Phoenix Suns held their media day ahead of the 2025-26 regular season recently, and it was clear just how quickly the franchise was attempting to move on from Kevin Durant. It was all love from both owner Mat Ishbia and superstar Devin Booker - but with 11 new faces now in The Valley - they are eager to turn the page.

Less talked about was Bradley Beal - the other major player who left this summer as he was bought out - although Booker was quick to praise him when speaking to the media as well. Upon becoming a free agent he quickly signed with the L.A. Clippers, a move that quickly backfired after their own off the court issues went public.

Beal would have had larger role if he'd stayed in Phoenix.

Despite saying all of the right things about wanting to sacrifice to win a championship, in reality Beal wasn't very good at being the third option offensively. It says it all that if anything, Grayson Allen quickly became better suited to that role and ironically might just end up getting a starting spot in Phoenix this coming season because of it.

In moving to the Clippers, Beal was once again attempting to prove he could be the third option, although it is also fair to point out that the fit next to Kawhi Leonard (if he's even still there come the start of the season) and James Harden makes a lot more sense compared to with the Suns when he had to play alongside another shooting guard in Booker. A problem Jalen Green has inherited.

But had Beal stayed put in The Valley - and it would have met the Suns paying him $110 million for another two seasons before being rid of him for good - he would have gotten a lot more opportunities to impress on what has become a rebuilding roster. Even if it was off the bench, he could have been used in ways he hasn't seen since he was the guy for the Washington Wizards.

Obviously with Green also in town minutes and fit would have been a massive headache, while it is nice that the Suns have a clean slate heading into this season. Even if they'll be paying Beal for the next five years. But he would have been a year away from becoming an expiring contract, and any chance to highlight him more could have led to more trade avenues opening as his deal wound down.

Moving on from Durant was the moment Ishbia and company decided to go in a different direction, and Beal wanting to chase a ring elsewhere made sense too. Only he seems to have picked the wrong location - and if he'd just stuck it out in Phoenix for a bit longer - the chance to get more touches and perhaps land in a better spot would have opened up for him.