While the Thunder just became one of the youngest teams in NBA history to win a title, the Clippers are leaning hard in the other direction experience, toughness, and a whole lot of mileage.
Their latest move? Bradley Beal.
On Wednesday, July 16, Beal secured a buyout with the Phoenix Suns and is now expected to sign a two-year deal with the Clippers. He still has to clear waivers, but don’t expect any team to pick up that $110 million left on his old contract — it’s just a formality at this point.
A Roster That Knows the Game and the Grind
This Clippers team isn’t messing around. They’ve already re-signed James Harden (35) and Nic Batum (36), picked up Brook Lopez (37), and kept Kawhi Leonard (34) in the fold. Now they’re adding Beal (32) and John Collins to a squad that still features Zubac, Bogdanović, Kris Dunn, and Derrick Jones Jr..
This roster is stacked not with fresh legs, maybe, but definitely with experience.
Why Beal? Why Now?
Last season, the Clippers went 50-32 and took the Nuggets to seven games in the first round. They had Denver on the ropes, up 2-1, before losing Game 4 on an Aaron Gordon buzzer-beater. They were close, very close and they know it.
With Norman Powell out, Beal gives them a reliable scorer who won’t have to carry the load but can absolutely go off when needed. Add in Collins, and they’ve patched their biggest holes.
Defensively, they’re solid Top 3 last season and their net rating ranked fifth in the league. Offensively? Middle of the pack. That’s what they’re trying to fix.
Probable Starting Five:
- PG: James Harden
- SG: Bradley Beal
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: John Collins
- C: Ivica Zubac
Bench includes: Bogdanovic, Lopez, Dunn, Jones Jr., Kobe Brown, Cam Christie.
If Kawhi stays healthy big if this team is going to be tough.
So… Can They Win the West?
Short answer: Maybe. But it won’t be easy.
The West is stacked. Oklahoma City just proved they’re legit. Denver’s still Denver. Houston’s on the rise. There are easily six or seven teams with a shot at making the Finals — and now the Clippers are one of them.
If this roster stays on the court, the Clippers are deep, dangerous, and built for a playoff run. But staying healthy and managing egos will be the challenge.
Still, they’ve made it clear: They’re not here to rebuild. They’re here to win now.
