With all of the backcourt's focus on Keaton Wagler, who was just drafted fifth overall over the summer, and the face of the franchise in Darius Garland, one could reasonably assume the LA Clippers’ front office has already made up its mind not to re-sign Bradley Beal after he declined his player option. They really have no reason to, and to put the cherry on top, Beal is 33, which is way out of the age range the Clippers would like their roster to mostly be under.
However, according to Marc Stein of “The Stein Line,” “a return to the Clippers, league sources say, has not been ruled out.” It is beyond ridiculous that the chapter on Beal has not been closed, given all the current circumstances. Stein added that the Miami Heat has also shown interest in the veteran scorer.
The Clippers need to put the Bradley Beal era behind them and move on
Based on Marc Stein’s report, the LA Clippers’ front office could be thinking of giving Bradley Beal a second chance with the organization. Why might that be the case? Well, Beal never really had the chance to show what kind of player he can be in LA’s system.
Last season, Beal suited up for eight games before suffering a season-ending hip injury. While he didn’t play all that well, that’s not a strong sample size to properly evaluate a player who was expected to surpass the hype as a Clipper.
With plenty of time to recover and prepare, there is a world where he returns and is actually solid.
Realistically speaking, though, the chance of that happening is extremely slim.
Even if he can still score at a high level, that’s the only area he truly contributes on the court. No playmaking. No rebounding. And certainly not any defense, as that’s his biggest weakness.
The Clippers don’t need players like these on the team. Rather, they need guys who can show their teeth in many different parts of the game.
Additionally, beyond Beal’s skillset as a player, there aren’t going to be many minutes for him in the backcourt rotation.
The Clippers will want to play Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, Kris Dunn, and Jordan Miller over Beal. This is not including Bennedict Mathurin, who they desperately want back in restricted free agency.
That said, it’s time for the Clippers to close their minds on Beal. He doesn’t necessarily fit and has concerns the team has no business dealing with for another season(s).
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