LA Clippers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Paul Headley
Re-signed Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley: Re-signed (3 years 40 million)
Upon sitting down to analyze Patrick Beverley’s fit with the new-look Clippers, I recalled my first week in Ho Chi Minh City. I decided to walk to the nearest convenience store late at night to grab some food and a cold beverage.
I took a wrong turn and wound up on a dusty backstreet, only realizing when it was too late that I was more or less surrounded by street dogs on either side who weren’t too pleased with my presence. I stepped lightly, decided against any sudden moves and focused on survival only.
I imagine that’s exactly how opposing ball-handlers will feel as they cross center court to a perimeter trifecta of George, Leonard and Patrick Beverley.
Beverley’s game syncs beautifully with George and Leonard. Beverley can lock up the smaller, quicker guard assignments Leonard and George might struggle with. Conversely, Beverley no longer has to deal with big wings capable of giving him trouble.
On offense, Beverley isn’t a high-level shot creator in the pick-and-roll; George and Leonard are two of the best. Beverley can keep the ball moving, attack when openings present and space the floor with his 3-point shooting.
Per NBA tracking data, Beverley shot 44.6 percent on 3-pointers labelled “wide-open” (nearest defender six feet or beyond) last season.
One imagines the vast majority of his threes next season being labelled the same way, given the attention his new star teammates will draw.
Beverley’s impact goes beyond his modest stat line. He finished 11th in RPM among point guards at plus 2.71. In terms of raw on/off numbers, the Clippers were plus 4.0 points per-100 possessions with Beverley on the court and minus 2.3 when he sat.
Re-signing Beverley was the most important piece of business the Clippers had outside of pulling off one the greatest superstar heists in recent memory.
Beverley had only made about $20 million dollars in his seven years in the NBA coming into this offseason, a number far beneath what he has contributed on the court. Beverley probably left money on the table to return to LA for three years and $40 million.
The Clippers should be delighted.