Bradley Beal's journey from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns, and now to the L.A. Clippers, has been fraught with challenges. For Suns fans, Beal's name often brings back memories of unfulfilled expectations, and it seems Clippers fans are now experiencing a similar sentiment.
The Clippers' decision to bring Beal on board, following his contract buyout with the Suns, has been criticized as one of the top 10 worst NBA deals since the 2025 offseason, according to ESPN's Zach Kram. But Beal isn't the only former Sun to make headlines in L.A.
Chris Paul, a future Hall of Famer, also joined the Clippers in the offseason. However, his stint was short-lived, ending in December after reported clashes with management. At 40, Paul's release marked an unceremonious end to what many hoped would be a memorable farewell tour.
The addition of Beal and Paul was part of a larger strategy that involved trading away guard Norman Powell in a three-team deal to acquire power forward John Collins. While Collins has performed admirably, averaging 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with impressive shooting percentages, Powell has thrived with the Miami Heat. His breakout season, including a first-time All-Star appearance and a career-high 22.2 points per game, highlights what the Clippers lost.
Beal, expected to fill Powell's shoes, struggled with just 8.2 points per game on 37.5% shooting before a season-ending hip surgery. Paul's impact was even less, with a career-low 2.9 points per game on 32.1% shooting, leading to his retirement.
Kram notes that the Clippers could potentially benefit from the cap space saved by not extending Powell. However, the immediate impact on their 2025-26 campaign has been anything but positive.
Trading Powell for the younger Collins, who will be a free agent at season's end, wasn't entirely misguided. Yet, with Kawhi Leonard in his prime, the lack of impactful support around him is glaring.
This challenging season has prompted the Clippers to make further roster changes, including trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac, in hopes of retooling for the future.