Report: Bradley Beal to opt out of contract

Beal will likely be asked to play a significant scoring role for the Clippers this season, but he won’t be able to provide that for at least one game. Gradey Dick and Kobe Sanders will likely take on extra minutes with Beal sidelined.

Beal wore No. 0 for his first season with the Clippers, allowing then-teammate Chris Paul to keep his No. 3 jersey for his farewell season in Los Angeles. But with Paul now retired, Beal will reclaim the jersey number ahead of the 2026-27 season. The veteran guard played just six regular-season games for the Clippers last season before suffering a season-ending hip injury. He averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists in just over 20 minutes per game.

After a rough 2025-26 season in which he was limited to six games due to injury, Beal opted out of the second year of his deal to become an unrestricted free agent. While there was reportedly interest from the Heat, the veteran guard has decided to remain with the Clippers on a two-year deal. If healthy, Beal can offer excellent value to managers in points leagues. However, availability has been an issue, with the 33-year-old guard having last played at least 60 games in a season in 2020-21.

Beal’s first season with the Clippers did not go as planned, as he appeared in just six games before a fractured hip required season-ending surgery. The veteran guard opted out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent, and he’s yet to find a new home. Miami has been mentioned as a possible destination for Beal, but various reports have the team’s priority being Dallas wing Klay Thompson. The Clippers are in a state of flux right now because Toronto has put the Kawhi Leonard trade on hold while the NBA continues its investigation into the contract he and Los Angeles agreed to years ago. While a healthy Beal can offer tangible fantasy value, his inability to stay healthy in recent years makes him a risky draft pick in standard leagues.

While Frank also said that Leonard is progressing well in his recovery, he revealed that the star forward is dealing with two injuries, not just the sprained left ankle suffered during a November 3 loss to the Heat. Leonard does not have a timeline for his return, but he will travel with the team on its upcoming road trip, which begins in Dallas on Friday. Kris Dunn moved into the starting lineup in the immediate aftermath of Leonard’s injury and will likely retain that role, especially with Bradley Beal (hip) done for the season.

Beal was in and out of the lineup with a knee injury and his overall effectiveness seemed to be in decline so far with the Clippers this season. The 32-year-old shooting guard missed Monday’s game against the Hawks with a hip injury and while there was concern he could miss more time, season-ending surgery is a bit of a surprise. Now that Beal’s out for the year, John Collins could see a boost in fantasy value by moving into starting lineup.

Initially questionable for Monday’s game, Beal is out with a sore hip. He’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by John Collins, with Kris Dunn serving as the starting two-guard. Collins’ fantasy value has suffered this season, as Derrick Jones Jr. has remained a starter and played well. Collins is already rostered in most 12-team leagues, and the lineup change gives his fantasy value a welcome boost. There is some concern that Beal’s hip injury will keep him out for multiple games; he’s undergoing further testing to determine the severity.

Beal is back on the injury report. The good news is that it is due to a sore hip, rather than the knee that was operated on during the offseason. With Kawhi Leonard (ankle) out, there are more scoring opportunities available to Beal. His production still hasn’t reached the point where he’ll provide solid fantasy value, but the ceiling is higher with no Leonard on the floor.

After missing Tuesday’s game, which was the second leg of a back-to-back, Beal was back to take on the Suns. With James Harden (personal) and Kawhi Leonard (ankle) both sidelined, it was a great opportunity for Beal to get back on track against his former team. Beal was limited to 20 minutes once again. The hope is that he’ll eventually play better and play more, but at this point, he isn’t doing much to help fantasy managers or the Clippers.

Beal enters the starting unit in place of James Harden, who is sidelined due to personal reasons. Beal is reportedly on a minutes restriction, so even though he is back in the lineup and starting, he isn’t going to play a significant role, which means more minutes for Bogdan Bogdanovic.