The Phoenix Suns don't have a ton of legitimate rivalries around the NBA - but if they are going to have beef with one franchise in Los Angeles - it will always be the Lakers. There's too much history between the two for that not to be the case, which makes small wins like this one all the sweeter when they do happen.
But an interesting development has taken place this offseason, with the Clippers nabbing Bradley Beal as soon as the Suns had bought him out. If that wasn't enough, Chris Paul decided his last dance was going to take place in Hollywood - and not The Valley - with both of his former teams believed by many to have been the only two locations he considered playing.
Clippers have signed yet another former Sun in TyTy Washington.
You'd think that would be where the links end, but you would be wrong. That's because L.A. have also gone out and signed TyTy Washington to an exhibit-10 contract ahead of next season, in what is a smart move by that franchise. There's no downside to doing this, and Washington could yet play himself into a bigger role there.
LA Clippers will waive Patrick Baldwin Jr., team has interest in bringing Baldwin back on E10 if he clears waivers
— Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 27, 2025
Jordan Miller will return on a 2-way contract
TyTy Washington is on E10 and will be a contender for a 2-way contract pic.twitter.com/p47AajeHeP
In contrast to the Beal and especially Paul signings though, this is small fry as far as the Suns are concerned. They've done a nice job of remaking their roster this offseason, to the point that Washington likely wouldn't even get a look in with all of the youth and exciting players with upside now in Phoenix.
In fact it is the Clippers who may be about to have an underwhelming campaign just as the Suns endured after Beal and Kevin Durant. Although they had made the NBA Finals in 2021, the trade for Durant actually signalled a backwards shift that the franchise is still paying for now. The Clippers may have been knocked out of the playoffs in round one last season, but they were a good team.
They are built on the ageing bodies of Kawhi Leonard (34) and James Harden (35), with Beal (32) and Brook Lopez (37) joining them this offseason. They don't even have the younger star like the Suns did with Booker, which makes the Washington signing worth talking about. Going down the same path as the Suns once did does not look like a recipe for success.
About the only reason Phoenix could have talked themselves into bringing Washington back was because of their lack of depth at point guard. But with Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler battling it out for third choice behind Collin Gillespie and one of Booker or Jalen Green, there was simply no room for him. That is a promising sign after years of taking whatever they could get.