The Bradley Beal era in Phoenix appears to be nearing an end.

The Suns and Beal are increasingly optimistic that the two sides will agree to terms on a buyout, league sources tell The Athletic. The move would make Beal an unrestricted free agent.

The goal for the Suns is to negotiate a buyout, waive him and then stretch his remaining salary over five years, which would reduce his annual cap hit on the Suns’ books. The move would not only get Phoenix out of the second apron, a dreaded payroll threshold where only the most expensive teams venture, but also out of the luxury tax altogether.

But the Suns can’t just waive Beal; they need his help.

Because of a quirk in the collective bargaining agreement, Beal, who has $110.8 million and two years remaining on his contract, must give back at least $13.8 million for the Suns to be allowed to stretch him. If he did, Phoenix would then have a dead cap hit of $19.4 million on its books in every season through 2029-30.

Beal, who turned 32 last month, averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 50/39/80 shooting splits last season. It may not be so easy for him to find $13.8 million on the open market.

One week removed from the start of NBA free agency, most of the league is without cap space or the necessary exceptions it would take to give Beal that much money on a two-year contract. Various organizations Beal could consider can’t give him that much, either. According to a league source, the list of teams Beal has thought about includes the LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Clippers just agreed to a trade that will send shooting guard Norman Powell to the Miami Heat and bring in high-flying power forward John Collins from the Utah Jazz. The deal opens a starting spot at Beal’s position, but because they used the $14.1 million midlevel exception to sign free-agent center Brook Lopez, they can offer Beal only what they have left of the MLE: a $5.3 million starting salary in 2025-26.

The Lakers could find a way to offer Beal the biannual exception, worth $5.1 million in starting salary.

The Bucks have already used up their exceptions and could offer only a minimum contract.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are stuck in a complicated situation with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Golden State would like to find a sign-and-trade to send Kuminga elsewhere but doesn’t have traction on one at the moment, league sources told The Athletic. If a deal is made for Kuminga that doesn’t bring back any money to the Warriors, then they would have access to the $14.1 million MLE, allowing them to offer Beal more money than the Clippers, Lakers or Bucks. But before offering anyone a portion of their MLE, the Warriors must find a resolution on Kuminga, a situation that could continue to drag.

The Suns could find other ways to dip below the second-apron payroll threshold, set at $207.8 million for 2025-26, about $20 million above the luxury tax. They could negotiate a buyout with Beal, waive him, choose not to stretch his money and then trade, say, Royce O’Neale to another team without taking any money back. But a move like that would still leave the team above the tax. And Phoenix, league sources said, is trying to save tax dollars.

The Suns traded for Beal in the summer of 2023, hoping that he, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could form a formidable big three. It never materialized. They won 49 games their first year together but were swept out of the first round of the playoffs. This past season, the Suns went 36-46, falling short of the Play-In Tournament.

They traded Durant to the Houston Rockets earlier this summer. Beal could be the next to leave.

(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)

CNN
 — 

“Love Island USA” contestant Cierra Ortega is no longer looking for love on the reality program.

Ortega’s exit, which came a week before the dating show’s Season 7 finale, was announced in a voiceover that said she left the show for a “personal situation,” without any further explanation.

The timing was notable because last week, two social media posts from 2015 and 2023 began circulating online that appeared to show Ortega using a racial slur while contemplating cosmetic procedures she wanted to get, according to the Daily Mail.

Asked about Ortega’s exit, a representative for Peacock, the platform on which “Love Island USA” streams, told CNN, “We won’t be providing a comment.”

On social media, Ortega’s parents spoke out about the “cruel messages” that their daughter has received on social media during the past week and leading up to her abrupt departure from the show during Sunday’s episode.

“We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her,” the statement, posted to Ortega’s Instagram story Sunday night, read. “We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that.”

Ortega’s parents continued to write that the “threats” to her friends, family and supporters are “uncalled for” and that “no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they’ve made.”

Over 17,000 people signed an online petition calling for her exit from the series.

Since Ortega is still sequestered following her exit, her parents wrote in their statement, “she hasn’t had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself.”

“But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace,” they added. “Until then, we’re simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency.”

Love Island USA will conclude its season on July 13.

Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers have split.

Phypers, 52, filed for divorce from the “Wild Things” star, 54, on Monday in Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by The Post.

Phypers listed “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the breakup. He also listed the date of separation as Friday, July 4.

The pair tied the knot in 2018 in Malibu.

Richards shared in a statement at the time, “I am so happy to officially be married to the love of my life!”

The wellness practitioner is seeking spousal support from Richards, per the documents. He also asked to keep their debts and assets separate, as well as making sure to note that he wants his power tools, 2018 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle and his Shelby GT500 sports car.

The Post has reached out to Richards’ rep and Phypers for comment.

The estranged husband and wife were married for six years. Richards is mom to daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, with her ex-husband Charlie Sheen.

The actress adopted daughter Eloise, 13, in 2011. In 2019, Phypers legally adopted Eloise.

In May, the two attended the Jonathan Foundation Fundraiser together, and gave no insight that there was trouble in paradise.

At the event, Richards and Phypers got candid about their youngest daughter’s health.

Eloise was diagnosed with chromosome 8 in 2016, which has caused developmental delays for the teen. Nevertheless, the teen is thriving.

“She’s doing amazing,” the former “RHOBH” star shared. “She really is. We are very fortunate that we’re able to provide that for her, but she’s turning 14 and there are a lot of challenges.”

Richards told The Post that Eloise has taught the now-former pair several things.

“Patience,” the mom of three stated. “She is an angel, and just the littlest things make her so happy. [It’s taught us] to enjoy the small things and enjoy the smaller things in life.”

Phypers noted, “She’s so special.”

The two also teased that Phypers would make a great James Bond for the franchise.

The businessman told The Post, “I would do it,” to which Richards concurred, “He would be an amazing Bond.”

Phypers added: “I could do it. No problem.”

Earlier this year, their half-hour reality series, “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things,” debuted on Bravo.

Richards revealed that the cast, which also included Sheen’s ex-wife Brooke Mueller and their 16-year-old twins Bob and Max, filmed more than what viewers saw.

“We filmed so much footage you can put into an episode,” she confessed. “I’m glad people want more instead of being like, ‘When is this thing over?’ So I’m glad that people seem to really like the show, and we’re very blessed, and hopefully we will be back for another season.”

During Season 1, fans got an in-depth look into Richards’ marriage. She and Phypers presented as a united front as they dealt with their children, relatives and relationship.

On the premiere episode, Richards opened up about her romance with the Bravo star.

“It’s not easy being married to me,” she expressed in a confessional, as Phypers responded: “It is not, and she said it! But this is it. I’m done.”

Richards admitted: “Yeah, I’m never getting divorced again. Even if we hate each other, I’m not gonna f–king get divorced.”

“We’ll just have different homes or something,” suggested the motorcycle enthusiast. “But we’re not gonna hate each other.”

But in April, Sami opened up about her bond, or lack thereof, with her stepdad.

“We’re not even that close,” she revealed on the “Casual Chaos with Gia Giudice” podcast. “We don’t ever hang out, we never talk.” However, Sami noted she’s all for his marriage to her mom because “he makes her happy.” 

Richards was famously married to Sheen, 59, from 2002 to 2006.

Phypers tied the knot with “Desperate Housewives” actress Nicollette Sheridan in 2015. The two divorced in 2018.