Bradley Beal (knee) remains out vs. Lakers

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.

This is a major blow for the Clippers as they enter the post-Kawhi Leonard era. During his media availability, Ingram said he’s considered week-to-week. With BI on the shelf, Max Strus, Keaton Wagler and Gradey Dick are all candidates to see increased run. The rookie Wagler has the most upside and makes for a fine, late-round selection in fantasy drafts.

The 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Gradey will get a change of scenery after three inconsistent seasons in Toronto. After making 54 starts in his second season, the 6-foot-6 wing saw his opportunities decrease sharply last season, with his playing time dropping from 29.4 to 14.0 minutes per game. However, while the trade gives Gradey a fresh start, the Clippers also added Max Strus and Keaton Wagler this offseason, not to mention Ingram. Getting the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball will be challenging for Gradey this season.

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.

Strus will get a fresh start after three seasons in Cleveland. His defense and floor spacing should help make an immediate impact for the Clippers as they look to establish a new identity in the post-Kawhi Leonard era. Strus could start alongside Darius Garland, but his presence in a crowded backcourt will make the rotation difficult to project. Kris Dunn, Bennedict Mathurin (RFA) and Gradey Dick all stand to lose out on minutes with Strus on the squad.

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.

Sanders agreed to a four-year deal at the beginning of free agency, so his future with the Clippers is secure. He’s taken on a marquee scoring role in Las Vegas, and the second-year forward shot 50 percent from the field on Tuesday. While Sanders has played well, his role in summer league does not align with what he’ll be asked to do when the regular season begins. That said, playing well this summer should improve Sanders’ chances of holding a consistent place in Tyronn Lue’s rotation.

The 50th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Sanders appeared in 68 games for the Clippers, starting 16. In those appearances, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 three-pointers in 19.9 minutes, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. While the Clippers did receive Brandon Ingram as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade, there may be more opportunities for Sanders to contribute next season. That said, he’s likely to be more valuable in dynasty leagues than redraft leagues. The final two seasons of Sanders’ new deal are non-guaranteed.

The 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Gradey had an uneven three seasons in Toronto. The 2024-25 campaign was his best, but it was a season when injuries decimated the Raptors. As part of a healthier rotation in 2025-26, Gradey averaged 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 14.0 minutes. While a capable shooter, he goes to a situation in Los Angeles in which consistent rotation minutes may be challenging to come by. Gradey is worth holding onto in dynasty leagues, but redraft league managers may want to look elsewhere for late-round value.