The Los Angeles Clippers traded Norman Powell this summer to avoid giving him an extension and to clear space for Bradley Beal. With Beal facing season-ending surgery, that gamble is looking bad. Beal gave up nearly $14M in a buyout of the last two seasons on his contract with the Phoenix Suns, presumably with the knowledge he could sign with the Clippers and make up some of that money. To clear space, the Clippers sent incumbent shooting guard Norman Powell (21.6 PPG, 41.8% three-point shooting in 2024-25) to the Miami Heat in a three-team deal that netted them power forward John Collins. Collins is averaging 12.9 points but only 5.1 rebounds this season, and is turning the ball over 2.1 times. Still, coach Ty Lue moved him into the starting lineup this week to provide more size with Beal and Kawhi Leonard out. The 3-7 Clippers still lost their fifth straight game. Beal was just one of a number of older players the Clippers picked up this summer, along with 37-year-old Brook Lopez and 40-year-old Chris Paul
