The Los Angeles Clippers’ signing of Bradley Beal this week—following his buyout from the Phoenix Suns—generated the kind of buzz typical of a marquee addition. But not everyone is convinced the move changes much in the Western Conference hierarchy.
Speaking on Thursday on ESPN’s First Take, former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins offered a blunt assessment when asked what Beal’s arrival meant for the Clippers’ title chances.
“Nothing,” Perkins said flatly.
Perkins Points to Aging Core
Support Our Fight To End Fall Weddings
Expanding on his point, Perkins questioned whether Beal remains in the elite tier of shooting guards—and whether the Clippers’ strategy of stockpiling veteran talent still holds up in a league increasingly defined by youth and depth.
“We were talking maybe four years ago about Bradley Beal in the same breath as Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown, and Donovan Mitchell,” Perkins said. “But when you look at the Clippers, they’re not doing anything but getting older.”
That, for Perkins, is the crux of the issue. While the Clippers added former Jazz forward John Collins in a separate deal this summer, Perkins emphasized the contrast between L.A.’s aging roster and what contenders like the Thunder and Timberwolves have built.
“When you look at what teams have done this offseason—the teams trying to go get it—they’ve added youth, athleticism, and depth at the wing. The Clippers don’t have that,” he said.
Beal’s Role and the Questions That Come With It
Beal, who turns 32 before the season begins, signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers following a rocky, injury-limited campaign in Phoenix. He averaged 17.0 points on 49.7% shooting in 53 games but never fully found rhythm next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Still, L.A. is betting that Beal, now slotted behind Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, can thrive as a tertiary scoring option in a system that won’t require him to carry the load. After all, this is the same player who once averaged over 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons in Washington.
Perkins, however, is skeptical that Beal—or the roster around him—will hold up across a full season and deep playoff run.
“You bring back Harden, who’ll give you something in the regular season. You bring back Kawhi, who showed flashes late last year,” Perkins said. “But we still don’t know. He’s always been a question mark.”
A Lone Bright Spot?
Perkins did acknowledge one area where the Clippers held their own last season: center Ivica Zubac, who turned in a strong postseason showing against reigning MVP Nikola Jokić.
“The only bright spot on this squad in my opinion is Big Zubac,” Perkins said. “He held his own against Jokic. He showed up.”
A Familiar Ceiling
The Clippers finished last season 50–32, grabbing the fifth seed in the West before losing in the first round. Leonard missed 45 games. Harden played in 79 and averaged 22.8 points and 8.7 assists, but the team never quite found cohesion.
Beal could provide another offensive gear. But Perkins doesn’t see a leap coming.
“When I look at the Clippers, they’re going to be a top-eight seed,” he said. “That’s it.”
For now, Beal joins a roster stacked with playoff experience—and questions. Whether that’s enough to finally push the Clippers past the second round remains as uncertain as ever.