Free agent guard Bradley Beal has agreed to a two-year, $13.2 million deal to return to the LA Clippers, his representative, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN on Thursday night.
The deal includes a player option in the second season.
After declining his $5.6 million player option, Beal sifted through possibilities over the past month in free agency, including interest from the Miami Heat, before landing on the Clippers.
Beal opted out of his deal to scan his own market and give the Clippers roster flexibility to explore options using salary space. Ultimately, the Clippers landed on a significant raise for a new contract.
A three-time All-Star, Beal signed with the Clippers last summer but played in only six games after suffering a fracture in his left hip that required season-ending surgery. He averaged career lows of 8.2 points and 20.2 minutes per game while shooting 36.8% from 3.
The Clippers pivoted from being a veteran-ladened team entering last season to one bringing in younger talent and more draft assets since Beal’s injury. They traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac in separate deals last season.
Beal, 33, is entering his 15th season has career averages of 21.4 points, 4.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds to go along with 37.6% shooting from 3. He has not averaged 20 points in a season since leaving the Wizards after the 2022-23 campaign.
Information from ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and ESPN Research was used in this report.
