After missing out on Russell Westbrook, the Chicago Bulls decided to turn to another former Los Angeles Lakers point guard. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bulls plan to sign veteran Patrick Beverley.
Beverley became available after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Orlando Magic over the weekend. The 34-year-old player was traded to Orlando by the Lakers ahead of the NBA trade deadline in a four-team trade that also included the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers.
Beverley started all 45 games with the Lakers so far in 2022-23, averaging 6.4 points and 3.1 boards per contest, his worst since the 2012–13 campaign.
The deal will see Beverley return to his hometown of Chicago. He is expected to give the Bulls more energy on the point guard position, while the team also hopes his defensive skills can help them make a push for the playoffs. Chicago is currently sitting at No.11 in Eastern Conference with a 26-33 record, trailing two games behind the Toronto Raptors, who hold the last play-in spot.
Patrick Beverley played with the Houston Rockets, the Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Lakers over the course of his NBA career. He has three NBA All-Defensive nods while averaging 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his 11 years in the league.
