As of now, the LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers are battling for the ninth seed. It is quite literally a race too close to call, as both teams are tied 15 games back from the first seed and have a one-percent win percentage differential. However, Portland is off to a head start with a wise, value-heavy move the Clippers would never have conceptualized for Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks, raising questions about Bradley Beal.
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Krejci has averaged 9 points and 2.2 3-pointers made per game on 42.3% shooting, which ranks top 20 in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/3MAOTnks5M
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2026
In the deal, Portland landed the six-foot-eight, nine-point-per-game averaging, and 42.3% three-point shooting wing for just Duop Reath and two second-round picks. He is one of the best shooters in the league, and at his height, considering the overall package, the Trail Blazers got a steal.
Thus, if all it took was Reath and capital in the second half of the draft, why are the Clippers sitting still with Beal? They have similar pieces the Trail Blazers just traded, and just allowed their biggest competition at the moment improve in a split second.
The Atlanta Hawks might have readily accepted the same package, but with Bradley Beal instead
The LA Clippers might have been confused on the next move for Bradley Beal following his injury, but seeing another veteran, Duop Reath, who is also out for the season, is concerning, as Lawrence Frank’s offer may have been given the nod.
The Hawks might waive Reath, and they may have opted for the same had they received Beal, yet there is more upside to keeping the former superstar, as he has a player option next season, soaking up $5.6 million.
However, the problem is that Lawrence Frank likely never made it to the point of inquiring about Vit Krejci. There is no excuse for not, and honestly, he had even more of a reason to, as Krejci’s career-high in points was against the Clippers, this season, of 28, consisting of eight three-pointers.
The Portland Trail Blazers, on the other hand, did, and once their trade with the Hawks went through, the young, ninth-seeded squad's executives had to be smiling ear to ear, with a bench that was quickly elevated.
That said, a team letting go of a quality floor-spacing wing for a player with a season-ending injury and two second-round picks is rare. The Trail Blazers, with Reath, were in a similar situation to the Clippers with Beal, yet Portland proved they could outsmart LA and ultimately demonstrated that cold-calling is never a bad idea.