The Clippers continue to shape their roster to try to remain competitive in the uber-competitive Western Conference, their latest deal to come in the acquisition of sharpshooting guard Bradley Beal after he clears waivers following a buyout from the Phoenix Suns.
Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, confirmed to The Times on Wednesday that his client has agreed to a two-year, $11-million deal that includes a player option for the second season, allowing him to become a free agent after the 2025-26 season.
Beal became available for the Clippers after securing a buyout from the Suns on his current contract, that had two years and $110 million left. He gave back about $13.9 million for the buyout, according to people not authorized to speak on the matter.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had repeatedly said this summer that the team wanted to create cap flexibility in order to be in position to go after free agents. By doing so, the Clippers were able to get Beal.
In Beal, the Clippers get a three-time All-Star whose contract lines him up with Kawhi Leonard, who has two years and $100-million left on his current deal, and James Harden, who re-signed this summer for two years and $81.5-million with a player option for the second year.
The three of them figure to provide the Clippers with a lot of offensive firepower that will allow coach Tyronn Lue to use them in ways to rival the best teams in the NBA.
Beal probably will start in place of Norman Powell, who was part of a three-team trade that sent him to the Miami Heat and netted the Clippers power forward John Collins, another key addition for a team building depth, from the Utah Jazz.
Beal, 32, spent the first 11 of his 13-year NBA career with the Washington Wizards, where he made those All-Star teams. He was traded to the Suns, using his no-trade clause to go to the team of his choice, at the start of the 2023-24 season and spent the last two years there, where he linked up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Beal’s scoring average dipped the last two seasons with the Suns, going down from 18.2 points per game in 23-24 to 17.0 points per game last season. He did shoot 38.6% from three-point range last season, and is a career 37.6% three-point shooter.
Over his career, Beal averaged 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 46.4% from the field and 82.1% from the free-throw line. He averaged a career-best 31.3 points during the 2020-21 season and shot 48.5% from the field.
Beal played in 53 games his first season with the Suns and 53 again last season, missing a total of 58 games over that span because of injuries.
He made the All-Star teams with the Wizards in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 and he was All-NBA third team in 2021.
The 6-9 Collins gives the Clippers some much-needed size, youth (27), athleticism and versatility.
Jazz forward John Collins reacts after making a three pointer against the Pacers last season.
(Rob Gray / Associated Press)
Collins averaged 18.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and shot 52.7% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range last season.
The Clippers also signed free-agent center Brook Lopez to a two-year, $18-million deal to be a backup center to Ivica Zubac.
Lopez averaged 13.0 points per game with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, along with 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He shot 37.3% from three-point range.
The Clippers are looking at a starting lineup of Harden and Beal in the backcourt, Leonard and Collins at forward, and Zubac at center.
The Clippers have been linked to having a reunion with free-agent point guard Chris Paul.
But the Clippers will wait for Beal to clear waivers on Friday to determine what their next step will be going forward.
