Bradley Beal will begin a new chapter in his career during the 2025-26 NBA season.
After all, Bradley Beal finally negotiated a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, where he gave back $13.9 million out of the original $110 million owed to him over the next two seasons.
Beal will stay in the Western Conference as he has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Speaking of which, what role will Beal play on the team? Well, head coach Tyronn Lue had dropped hints about the same even before the 32-year-old signed with the team.
A huge reason behind the failure of the Suns’ Big 3 over the last two seasons was the lack of clarity about Beal’s role.
Before getting traded to the Suns, Beal was the No. 1 option on the Washington Wizards. However, on the Suns, he was stuck behind the dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Similar to the Suns, there’s doubt about his fit on the Clippers. After all, the team already is home to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Well, it seems like head coach Ty Lue will shift Beal to the point guard of the team. It’s a calculated guess based on what Lue said about Beal in 2024.
“He can just do a lot of everything. Catch and shoot, he can run pick & roll, make the pass and right reads. Great cutter and can play 1-on-1. He’s just great all-around,” Lue told Shane Young on X in 2024.
The response was in regard to the Suns experimenting with Beal as their starting point guard, late in the 2023-24 NBA season.
It’s clear that Lue fell in love with Beal’s ability to play point guard, albeit briefly, on the Suns. It’s important to note that Beal has been listed as a shooting guard throughout his 13-year NBA career.
However, the Clippers already have a talented SG in Harden. Of course, coach Lue could rely on Harden running the offense on the floor, but it’s equally possible for him to test out Beal at that position.
Keeping that in mind, here’s a look at the Clippers’ potential starting five for the 2025-26 NBA season.
| Position | Player Name |
| Point Guard | Bradley Beal |
| Shooting Guard | James Harden |
| Small Forward | Kawhi Leonard |
| Power Forward | John Collins |
| Center | Ivica Zubac |
This lineup looks lethal; the only question is whether they can stay fit for the entirety of the season or not. Let’s not forget that the trio of Beal, Leonard, and Collins played less than 55 games last season.
