The Clippers’ decision to bring Bradley Beal back has already turned into a costly headache, and there’s still no sign of a quick fix.
Beal signed a two-year, $13.1 million deal with LA, but shortly after that re-signing he developed knee inflammation. Since then, he has missed all of training camp and preseason, and there hasn’t been any indication that a return is close. The last update on him came more than a month ago from Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, who reported that Beal wasn’t taking part in 5-on-5 work in practice.
That silence only adds to the frustration around the move. Even when Beal is healthy, it’s fair to question whether he’s worth the money. Since debuting for the Clippers over a year ago, he has barely been available and has spent far too much time in street clothes.
The bigger problem is that LA may not have much of a way out. Beal could be tough to move at the trade deadline because his market value looks limited.
So what exactly was the front office thinking? Beal brings scoring and veteran experience, but not a lot else.
He isn’t a strong defender, he doesn’t create for teammates at a high level, and he’s not the kind of player an NBA team can lean on to deliver consistent impact this late in his career. When his shot isn’t falling, he can become a liability.
The injury history only makes the gamble look worse. Beal hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since 2018-19, before the Pandemic, and over the years he has dealt with hamstring sprains as well as season-ending wrist and hip injuries.
That’s why the Clippers’ choice to re-sign him stands out so much. Maybe the team believes it knows something the rest of the league doesn’t. Or maybe the front office simply chose to focus on the upside after seeing the weaknesses he showed in eight games last season.
Either way, there’s another wrinkle: the Clippers made the first year of Beal’s contract fully guaranteed. That means he’s set to collect more than $6 million whether he plays or not.
For now, the Clippers are left waiting. And if they want any chance of getting something back for Beal, they need him on the floor and drawing interest around the league.
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Clippers Linked To Rival Trade Idea Fans Will Hate
A cross-town trade idea is already floating around the league, and it has the potential to sting Clippers fans for more than one reason. ESPN reported that the Lakers, off to a strong start while building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, could look to sharpen their defense by targeting a familiar face in Derrick Jones Jr., whose athleticism and on-ball work have made him a useful piece in recent seasons.
For the Clippers, the wrinkle is whether Jones would even be available if he wants a change of scenery, which is the kind of front-office question that can turn a rumor into something more serious. The proposed framework would send a young scorer and future draft capital back to Los Angeles, but the larger issue is what it would mean to see a division rival try to solve a roster problem by reaching for one of the Clippers' defensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
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Mitchell has become an important secondary option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, giving the Thunder another source of offense when the rotation gets thin. If he can go, Los Angeles will have to account for a player who has helped stabilize Oklahoma Citys scoring depth. If not, the Clippers may see a more shorthanded version of a team already dealing with multiple absences, which changes the look of the game even before tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Still Have A Bradley Beal Problem They Cant Solve
Bradley Beals season has been stuck in neutral for months, and the Clippers still do not have a clear path to getting him back into the rotation. Since suffering a broken hip in November 2025 that required surgery, Beal has been cleared to play but has not been able to sustain the kind of workload ramp-up teams usually need before a return. He has appeared in only six games this season, which has left Los Angeles waiting for a player it expected to be part of the solution.
The latest holdup is another reminder that this has become more than a simple rehab timeline. Beal is out again, with the Clippers managing his recovery while also dealing with right knee inflammation, and the uncertainty around his return date only adds to the frustration. For a team trying to piece together consistency, the bigger issue is not just when Beal can suit up, but whether his body will finally cooperate long enough for the Clippers to count on him. [Read more 🡒]