The Los Angeles Clippers were part of a three-team trade on Monday, sending Norman Powell to the Heat and a 2027 second-round pick to the Jazz for John Collins. There is now an open starting guard spot in LA, one that could be filled by Bradley Beal, who is expected to negotiate a buyout with Phoenix.
The Clippers are one of the teams Beal is considering signing with (subscription required), along with the Lakers, Warriors, and Bucks. Los Angeles could sign the guard using its non-taxpayer mid-level exception, $5.3 million. The Lakers can offer $5.1 million, the Bucks can offer a minimum contract, and the Warriors could offer a portion of their $14.1 million midlevel exception.
Beal landing in Los Angeles, but not at Crypto, is a real possibility. On one hand, the Clippers need to replace the shooting they lost by trading Powell. Beal averaged 17 points per game this past season on 49.7% shooting from the field and 38.6% from three. He isn't a terrible player, but he is currently on a terrible contract that the Suns willingly traded for.
Getting Beal for $5.3 million (plus what Phoenix would pay him by waiving and stretching his contract) wouldn't be a bad move for LA, but it could turn into one.
Bradley Beal's health and defense should concern the Clippers
The last time Beal reached the 60-game mark in a single season was in 2020-21 when he was still with the Wizards. He played 40 games in 2021-22, 50 in 2022-23, 53 in 2023-24, and 53 in 2024-25. This past season, he dealt with injuries pertaining to his elbow, calf, knee, hip, ankle, toe, and hamstring.
It'd be another stroke of bad luck for LA if it signed Beal, only for him to have missed a chunk of the season by Christmas Day. It's a real possibility, though, as he's struggled to stay healthy over the past several years.
Another issue with signing Beal is his defense. The Clippers are equipped to hide him on that end of the floor, at least, solely relying on his scoring.
If Beal ends up with the good guys in LA, don't expect him to be the shooter that Powell was this past season. Beal still has value, but temper expectations. At least he wouldn't cost much in case things take a turn for the worse!