This Friday, Bradley Beal has a chance to turn things around for the LA Clippers and surpass expectations as their third star. The Clippers are 2-2 to start the season. However, with Beal’s return, the team should begin its rise as a formidable team in the West.
Bradley Beal’s Return Should Fix Clippers Offensive Woes
Missing Third Option
Sidelined for the last two games due to back soreness, Bradley Beal will return against the New Orleans Pelicans, according to The Athletic’s Law Murray. In his absence, the Clippers recorded the third-worst offensive rating in the league. Against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the team shot only 36.6% from the field, failing to crack 80 points since 2021. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden struggled mightily in the second half when the Warriors outscored them 52-30.
Bradley Beal (back) will return Friday night vs Pelicans
— Law Murray
(@LawMurrayTheNU) October 30, 2025
The Clippers lacked a viable third option. But on Friday, Beal has a chance to establish himself in that role. Last season, Norman Powell was one of three Clippers who averaged 20+ points per game. His departure meant that the Clippers needed to replace those numbers. So, the Clippers acquired Beal to match Powell’s numbers while being almost $15 million cheaper after a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
So far, though, the former All-Star has yet to reach even double-digits in points. Beal shot 2-5 from the field for five points in the Clippers’ shock loss to the Utah Jazz in their season opener. He followed it up with even fewer tries in their bounce-back win against the Phoenix Suns after shooting 2-4 for six points. Beal’s uncharacteristically low productivity could be a result of his nagging back soreness, which limits his minutes to only 20 per game.
Ty Lue is still experimenting with his lineups this season, but his most consistent one yet includes Beal. The lineup featuring Beal, Leonard, Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Derrick Jones Jr. has been Lue’s favorite thus far and is a sign that the head coach is looking to integrate the former Washington Wizards star in key stretches.
Chance For Redemption
Beal has been under public scrutiny since his time with the Suns, when he failed to recapture his All-Star form off the bench. Signing with the Clippers was supposed to be him finding his old form in a new city. Comparisons with Powell, who is off to a strong start with the Heat this season, will likely persist for Clippers fans. Still, the season is still early, and alarm bells shouldn’t be rung as of yet.
The game against the Pelicans on Friday is his chance to raise his productivity and form a lethal trio with Harden and Leonard. And with Lue still figuring out the team’s efficient lineups, Beal will surely get a chance to shine.
Fellow new arrivals, such as Brook Lopez and John Collins, have already shown what the revamped Clippers could look like in their front court. The only glaring issue has been their front-court arrivals besides Beal in Chris Paul, who looks a step slower than in past seasons.
The Clippers won’t be expecting numbers as high as his seasons in Washington, but he is still expected to produce higher numbers. Especially at games when Harden and Leonard struggle. The game on Friday is not yet make-or-break for Beal, but his performance will dictate how the Clippers overcome their early-season hump and match the lofty expectations after a busy offseason.
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