Clippers sign Bradley Beal and Chris Paul

The Los Angeles Clippers are making some significant noise when it comes to adding players in the offseason. Joining power forward John Collins of Layton, Utah, who the Clippers acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz, and center Brook Lopez of North Hollywood, California, who the Clippers signed as a free agent from the Milwaukee Bucks, are shooting guard Bradley Beal of St. Louis, Missouri and veteran point guard Chris Paul of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Beal signed a two-year contract worth $11 million with the Clippers on Wednesday after being bought out by the Phoenix Suns according to Shams Charania of ESPN.  The Clippers are the third NBA franchise Beal has played for. He spent 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards, and the last two seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Fascinatingly, two years ago when the Wizards traded Beal to the Suns, he was traded for Paul.  While with the Wizards, Beal was an All-Star three times (2018, 2019, and 2021). While with the Suns this past season, Beal averaged 17 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 3,3 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game. He had a field goal percentage of .497, three-point percentage of .386, and a free throw percentage of .803.

Paul signed a one-year deal worth $3.6 million with the Clippers on Monday according to Andy Backstrom and Jason Owens of Yahoo! Sports. There is speculation that Paul will retire at the end of the season. This will be Paul’s 21st season in the NBA. He was previously with the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets, Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. The 12-time All-Star led the NBA in assists per game five times, free throw percentage once, and steals per game six times. The 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year is a future Hall of Famer.