The Golden State Warriors saw another top free agent slip away in an offseason that has them the only team in the NBA that has yet to make a move.
Three-time All-Star Bradley Beal spurned the Warriors and plans to join their Pacific division rivals Los Angeles Clippers, once he clears waivers.
Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns on July 16 and plans to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reports.
The 32-year-old guard is giving back $13.8 million to complete the buyout, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.
“The crux of the decision for Beal and his representation was finding the best basketball situation first and foremost once he was granted permission by the Suns to speak to interested suitors around the NBA, and Bartelstein led an exhaustive process over the last few weeks,” Charania wrote on X.
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer previously reported that the Warriors were one of the five interested teams. That group included the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to Charania, Beal became “extremely excited” about his buyout with the Suns after meeting with multiple interested suitors.
Beal considered the Lakers, Warriors and the Bucks aside from the Clippers, Katz previously reported.
However, the Warriors were not willing to give Beal more than the veteran minimum, according to ClutchPoint’s Brett Siegel.
Ultimately, Beal opted for the Clippers, who have an opening in their starting unit after trading Norman Powell to the Miami Heat in a three-team deal that brought back forward John Collins.
Warriors Expected to Land Top 2 Free Agents
Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Al Horford of the Boston Celtics.
While they missed out on Beal, the Warriors are still expected to land the top two remaining free agents in the market, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“My expectation is that one way or the other, the Warriors are going to end up with both Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton on their roster,” Stein said on Willard & Dibs.
Horford, 39, averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making nearly two 3-pointers per game on 36.3% shooting from beyond the arc. He will fill an immediate need for the Warriors after losing Kevon Looney to the New Orleans Pelicans at the start of NBA free agency.
Melton, 26, is coming off an ACL injury, which he sustained while he was with the Warriors in November last year. The veteran guard is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the season.
The Interesting Case of De’Anthony Melton
Getty Will De’Anthony Melton reunite with the Golden State Warriors?
Before the injury, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in six games, including two starts, for the Warriors. He played next to Stephen Curry in the backcourt and helped the Warriors get off to a 12-2 start.
Melton’s injury ignited a series of events that eventually led to the Warriors landing Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.
After Melton got hurt, the Warriors quickly shipped him to Brooklyn for Dennis Schröder in a move that fizzled out. They subsequently included Schröder in the Butler deal that lifted them back to the playoffs.
If Melton elects to sign with the Warriors, there is no guarantee that he will start next to Curry again.
Butler’s arrival and Brandin Podziemski‘s emergence in the second half of last season crowd the Warriors’ backcourt.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Frozen Out as Top Free Agent Joins Division Rivals appeared first on Heavy Sports.