2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Patrick Beverley: 3 years, $40 million (Los Angeles Clippers)
Free agent guard Patrick Beverley has agreed to a three-year, $40M deal to stay with the Clippers, his agent @KB_Sports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Whether the Los Angeles Clippers land Kawhi Leonard or not, re-signing Patrick Beverley is a huge win. If they don’t secure the Klaw’s services, at least they didn’t miss out on retaining a useful vet, defender, 3-point shooter and culture-setter like Bev. And if they do sway Kawhi, then they just added the summer’s hottest free agent to a core that just won 48 games.
Not only was Beverley instrumental in mentoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he was also useful on the court, posting 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point range. He was one of the Clippers’ most fiery competitors and fiercest defenders, setting the tone for the team’s surprisingly successful season.
While $13 million a year is a significant amount to pay, Beverley was intrinsic to the identity and culture of the Clippers — the same identity and culture that has the attention of the summer’s best free agent. Whether they land the big fish or not, bringing Pat Bev back is a great move.
Grade: A-