Jason McIntyre says Los Angeles Lakers would be West favorites if Bradley Beal joins them

Jason McIntyre believes that if the Lakers bring in Bradley Beal, they could become serious Western Conference favorites. He shared this take on July 14, explaining how Beal’s scoring, especially off the bench, could boost the roster.

The Lakers already added Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, but Beal would be a big move. Still, his injuries and competition from other teams could make things more complicated.

Bradley Beal’s bench role could be key to Los Angeles Lakers’ title hopes

On July 14, Jason McIntyre boldly stated on The Herd that Bradley Beal would have to take on a reserve position behind the Lakers' star backcourt¹. With a solid 50–32 record and a third seed finish in the regular season, L.A. is already well-equipped—but Beal could provide a significant scoring boost, especially coming off the bench.

However, to make that transition, Beal has to accept the bench role and invest in the system.Meanwhile, Beal's availability is facing some serious competition. The Los Angeles Clippers are generally viewed as the leading candidates to get him after Phoenix supposedly considered a buyout; they are now favored over the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Heat. He put up an average of 17.0 to 17.6 PPG in 53 games last season with Phoenix, but has had injury issues and hasn't played more than 60 games in a season since 2020-21.

The Lakers made significant moves this offseason adding center Deandre Ayton and forward Jake LaRavia while letting Dorian Finney-Smith go, enhancing their depth, but the general opinion still sees the Clippers as a stronger candidate to acquire Beal. Even if Beal finds his way to L.A., McIntyre’s bold prediction relies on several variables: health, locker-room dynamics, and rivalry among multiple contenders.Adding Beal to a squad led by LeBron and Luka immediately establishes a formidable trio that can take on any rival. They would, however, switch up the typical roles: two well-known stars starting, with Beal coming off the bench to provide quick scoring. With Beal's career averages (21.5 PPG, 4.3 AST, 4.1 REB) and his veteran insight, that extra depth could be the key factor in a conference packed with threats.Health is still the biggest question mark.

Beal has had a history of injuries, and the Lakers really can't have important players sidelined when the playoffs roll around. Plus, everyone on the bench needs to be on board; if Beal isn't happy or things don't mesh well, the hopes for success could fall apart fast—and Broussard's strong "no" on The Herd shows that he's aware of this reality.Also Read: Paul George’s successful knee surgery adds new challenge to Philadelphia 76ers’ 2025 training camp plansBut the larger context is unclear: the risk of injuries, Beal's buyout issues, and tough competition from the Clippers and other rivals keep it all speculative. McIntyre sees the possibilities. Broussard picks up on the signals. And the NBA world is tuned in — with Beal himself at the core of the unfolding story.