NBA Insider Reveals Why Bradley Beal Didn’t Want to Sign With Los Angeles Lakers

NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints revealed why Bradley Beal didn’t want to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Beal, who was bought out by the Phoenix Suns and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, would have came off the bench with the Lakers.

“Bradley Beal did not hold interest in joining the Lakers despite the team holding extensive conversations with him and his representation, sources said,” Siegel wrote. “Unlike his role in the starting lineup with the Clippers next to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, the Lakers wanted him to be their sixth man behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.”

Beal signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Clippers, who will start Harden, Beal, Leonard, John Collins and Ivica Zubac next season. Harden recruited Beal to the Clippers, who also added Chris Paul this offseason.

Meanwhile, the Lakers will start Doncic, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton in 2025-26.

Beal played in 53 games for the Suns last season. The Florida product averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 49.7% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc and 80.3% from the free-throw line. 

A three-time All-Star with the Washington Wizards, Beal has career averages of 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Wizards and Suns. He’s never made it past the second round of the playoffs.

The Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games, while the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in five games.

LAC has never been to the NBA Finals, while LAL has the second-most titles (17) in NBA history, trailing only the Boston Celtics (18).

The Clippers and Lakers are in the same division, so LAL will see plenty of Beal and LAC next season.