The Kawhi Leonard trade isn't holding up the offseason plans of the Los Angeles Clippers as they are continuing to add to the roster. On Thursday night, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Clippers are bringing back Bradley Beal on a two-year, $13.2 million deal. There is a player option on the second year. Beal played for the Clippers last season, but only appeared in six games before undergoing season-ending hip surgery. He averaged 8.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 37% shooting and 36% from three. Six games is a small sample size and isn't a true indicator of what Beal could bring to the table.
Bradley Beal played in just six games last season after a hip fracture ended his 2025-26 campaign… More buckets coming 🔜👀 pic.twitter.com/Xo46FOjOBJ — SleeperClippers (@SleeperClippers) August 13, 2026 Beal's Deal Beal is actually getting a bit of a raise as he declined his player option that was worth $5.6 million. According to Shams, Beal explored his options as an unrestricted free agent and declined his player option to give the Clippers flexibility in making moves this offseason. It is unclear which teams had offers on the table for Beal, but the Miami Heat reportedly had interest in bringing him in. The Clippers have a trade in place that will send Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick. The team did sign Rui Hachimura to a two-year, $28 million deal to bolster their frontcourt.
Beal explored options in free agency upon declining his $5.6M player option, giving the Clippers more salary space to pursue deals as well, before the sides landed on his return in LA after the three-time NBA All-Star rehabbed from hip surgery that cost him most of last season. https://t.co/BoMIMpc9kg — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 13, 2026 What Does It Mean? Beal just turned 33 and is coming off hip surgery, which could really affect his mobility. His numbers declined as a member of the Phoenix Suns, but his role was more limited in Phoenix compared to Washington, where he was the top scoring option set up by John Wall or Russell Westbrook. He was third on the scoring chart behind Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in Phoenix. On the Clippers, he will likely come off the bench, especially if the team is able to re-sign Bennedict Mathurin, who is a restricted free agent. There is a small chance he starts if Mathurin is not re-signed and the Clippers want to ease fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler into things by bringing him off the bench. Beal could be a good mentor for Wagler as well, not only on the court but also as a professional off the court. The Clippers have lost veterans like James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Leonard over the past year, so having a veteran like Beal on the roster will benefit a guy like Wagler. If Beal is able to perform, he's on a good contract that the team might be able to flip at the trade deadline. If he's not the same player he used to be, they're not on the hook for much, and he has value elsewhere.