Bradley Beal’s move to the Los Angeles Clippers was supposed to be the splash that put them back in championship contention. Instead, it sparked a heated debate about whether the three-time All-Star still has what it takes to move the needle for a contending team.
What Does Bradley Beal’s Addition Really Mean for the Clippers?
Three-time NBA All-Star Beal parted with the Phoenix Suns after a $96 million buyout and is reportedly set to join the Los Angeles Clippers. According to an ESPN NBA insider, Beal will sign an $11 million two-year contract.
Beal’s departure was expected after the Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets as part of their rebuild. Beal will join forces with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden at the Clippers, forming what many consider an enviable trio. However, 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins isn’t impressed.
On the recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Perkins, Harry Douglas, and Brian Windhorst joined Monica McNutt, and they discussed Beal’s reported move to the Clippers.
“Nothing. Nothing. I mean, like I’m just being real here,” Perkins replied to McNutt’s question of what Beal’s addition means for the Clippers.
“Maybe four years ago, we had Bradley Beal in the conversation with the likes of Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell when it comes down to the two-guard position. But when you look at the Clippers and you look at who they have, they’re not doing nothing but getting older,” he added.
Perkins believes that the Clippers are getting older, not better. Even though they added John Collins and retained stars like Harden and Leonard, he questioned their durability and overall roster construction.
The former NBA champion credited Ivica Zubac, calling him the team’s only real bright spot after his strong postseason performance against Nikola Jokić. However, Perkins sees the Clippers as a fringe playoff team, a top-eight team, and not better than teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors.
“So again, Bradley Beal on this squad becoming the fourth option behind James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Big Zubac, I mean, to be honest, doesn’t really do nothing for me. It doesn’t move the needle. It shouldn’t have been breaking news. It should have just been NBA news,” Perkins said.
Can the Clippers Prove Perkins Wrong About Their Championship Hopes?
While Perkins predicted that the Clippers would be an eighth seed at best, Douglas boldly claimed that they would be a top four or five seed in the Western Conference next season.
“You look at Brook Lopez coming over in free agency to back up Zubac. You go get a John Collins as well, and now you get Bradley Beal. So basically you said, we’re gonna get three players for one,” Douglas said.
Douglas emphasizes that on any given night, four Clippers starters can drop 20 or more points, directly contradicting Perkins’ belief that Beal is insignificant as the fourth option.
However, questions remain about Beal’s fit with his new teammates. Beal didn’t rise to the occasion when playing with Durant and Booker in the Phoenix Suns’ last two seasons. Therefore, how he gets along with Harden and Leonard on the court remains to be seen.
