The Phoenix Suns were so desperate to end Bradley Beal's time in the desert that they used the waive-and-stretch provision to get him off the roster. It led to Beal signing a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers. He hasn't been in Los Angeles for long, but so far, it's been a struggle.
You have to think that the Suns feel a little bit better about stretching Beal's contract over the next five years, given how the start of the season has gone. He's averaging 8.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 37.5% from the field and 36.8% from three in six games. He's missed three contests for the Clippers.
Yes, Beal is on a minutes restriction after he underwent a knee scope over the summer, but those aren't the kind of numbers that LA thought it'd see from the 32-year-old.
He's scored 49 total points this season. Norman Powell, whom the Clippers traded to open the starting shooting guard position for Beal, is averaging a career-high 23.3 points per game for the Heat. Powell has scored 114 more points than Beal this season, and has only played in one more game than him.
Bradley Beal is off to a concerning start for the Clippers
His worst game of the season was his five-point performance on 2-of-14 shooting from the field in LA's loss to Phoenix last Thursday. Beal had as many made shots as he did turnovers. After the game, he commented on the fact that he took 14 shots, pointing out that it wasn't often he took that many shots in a game when he was with the Suns.
Beal has also said that Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer did not allow him to be himself when he was in Phoenix. It's evident that he's happier in Los Angeles, but the early-season results haven't been encouraging for him or the Clippers. It'd be premature to say that signing Beal is a decision that LA regrets, but that could end up being the case in a few months.
The Beal trade is one of the worst moves that the Suns have made over the past few years, and it's a decision they're literally still paying for. The Clippers aren't on the hook for nearly as much money as the Suns were when they acquired him in 2023, but still, losing Powell for Beal could age poorly in its own way for Los Angeles.
Phoenix might not end up being the only team that wishes it could undo adding Beal to the roster.