The LA Clippers have stolen the Los Angeles Lakers' thunder, signing recent buyout beneficiary Bradley Beal in the waning hours of free agency. It's a move that could help elevate the Clippers to true contender status, as they've replaced Norman Powell with a former All-Star at shooting guard.
If the Lakers need reason to believe they can still go further than the Clippers in 2024-25, however, then all they need to remember is that this story has played out many times before.
Beal remains one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. It's been four years since he averaged 31.3 points per game, but he posted a more than respectable 17.6 points per contest on .505/.407/.803 shooting between his two campaigns with the Phoenix Suns.
Having completed a buyout with the Suns, Beal will now join the Clippers in hopes of pursuing a championship with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
BREAKING: Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/gxZB0ObSms
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2025
Unfortunately for the Clippers, Beal is yet another player with a long history of injuries and questionable availability.
Clippers add another injury-plagued star to the rotation
On paper, a lineup centering around Beal, Harden, Leonard, and Ivica Zubac should rank among the best in the NBA. There's remarkable balance and a crucial degree of unselfishness to be found in that group, with Derrick Jones Jr. likely to round the starting five out as a 3-and-D forward.
The harsh reality facing the Lakers' cross-town rival, however, is that Beal hasn't played in at least 60 games since 2020-21.
Beal missed 42 games in 2021-22, 32 in 2022-23, and 29 in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. At 32 years of age, it's fair to question if that trend will be bucked in time for the Clippers to make a run at a title with a team whose window is rapidly closing.
In addition to widespread injury concerns throughout the Clippers' roster, there's an age factor to consider with Harden turning 36 next month and Leonard turning 34 this past June.
The Lakers shouldn't write any team off, of course, as the Clippers' on-court potential remains profound. That begins with the fact that Leonard showed flashes of his former self upon returning from injury in 2024-25 and is still as safe a bet as anyone to take over late in a game.
One simply can't help but note that the Clippers' grand ambitions are relying heavily on the health and availability of players who have missed considerable time in recent seasons.
Los Angeles certainly would've benefited from adding Beal, let alone at an average annual salary of just $5.5 million. One simply can't help but note that the fit with the Clippers requires one to look past the mountains of data that would suggest injury histories share equal importance to abilities.
If the Lakers' rival is hoping to turn the Beal signing into something of substance, then it'll need to hope for an outcome that history doesn't favor.