Bradley Beal Returns to Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal is set to kick off another season with the Los Angeles Clippers, this time on a two-year contract worth $13.2 million, including a player option for the second year, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

This decision comes after Beal opted out of his $5.62 million player option earlier this offseason. It was a somewhat unexpected move, given that his first season in L.A. fell short of expectations.

In fact, Beal only managed to play six games by the end of the 2025-26 season due to a hip injury, putting up the lowest averages of his 14-year NBA career, with just 8.2 points and 1.7 assists across 20.2 minutes per game.

His brief performance this past season was a stark contrast to his prime years in Washington, where he averaged 31.3 points per game, or even his final season in Phoenix, where he averaged 17.0 points. It’s puzzling, isn’t it?

The Clippers are banking on Beal still having something left in the tank.

His return coincides with some significant roster changes. The team has acquired Darius Garland and the No. 5 overall pick, Keaton Wagler, to bolster their backcourt. Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Kawhi Leonard remains uncertain, as the NBA is currently investigating allegations related to salary cap mishandling involving Leonard and the Clippers.

This ambiguity creates a unique scenario for Beal’s return, which seems to be a budget-friendly effort to firm up the backcourt.

If he can stay healthy, the 33-year-old might compete for a starting role alongside Garland, contributing as both a ball handler and a scorer. However, it’s worth noting that Beal hasn’t played more than 60 regular-season games since the 2018-19 season, which raises concerns about his availability.

The Clippers are definitely hoping to see more from their investment this time around. Both Beal and the team will be looking for a much longer second season together than the first.