Bradley Beal is ready to put the last few years behind him, and the Los Angeles Clippers are happy to help.
When speaking about the addition of Beal to the team, head coach Ty Lue said what he expects from him.
“The elite defender he’s been in the past,” Lue said.
“The elite defender he’s been in the past.”
– Ty Lue on what he wants out of Bradley Beal
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Beal has admitted that some people may have forgotten what he’s capable of lately.
He was with the Phoenix Suns for the last two seasons, a team that was constantly stuck toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Beal averaged 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists during his time in Phoenix.
He didn’t perform poorly, but it was clear that the combination of him, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker just didn’t work.
All reports said the Suns wanted to move on from Beal, but they couldn’t because he had a no-trade clause in his contract.
In the end, a deal with the Clippers was put together, and now Beal is prepared to turn a page.
The team will want his help on offense, but they are more interested in what he can bring to the defensive end of the court.
During his time with the Washington Wizards, he was known as one of the toughest defenders in the league, someone who would never back down from a fight.
People haven’t seen a lot of that during his two years with the Suns, but he’s ready to bring that part of his game back.
Lue expects nothing less than that from Beal in the new year, and he believes it’ll be key to a great Clippers season.
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