Nearly two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers traded veteran guard Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic in a deal that brought them center Mo Bamba.
Beverley was quickly bought out by the Magic, and he will reportedly be joining the Chicago Bulls for the rest of this season.
The Chicago Bulls are nearing a deal to sign free agent guard Patrick Beverley for the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 20, 2023
Just a few years ago, Beverley was considered a feared defensive standout, and despite standing just 6-foot-1, he would sometimes take on the challenge of guarding bigger and taller wings.
He has also been known as a very dependable 3-point shooter, not to mention one of the biggest trash-talkers in the NBA.
But at age 34, his skills have declined somewhat, which is something the Lakers discovered after trading for him last summer.
Beverley’s shooting was frigid during the first few weeks of this season, and although he started becoming much more accurate in early December, it was clear that he simply wasn’t getting the job done for L.A.
In Chicago, he will be able to provide some veteran leadership for a young and struggling squad.
After playing very well during the first half of the 2021-22 campaign, the Bulls stumbled to the playoffs and lost in the first round, but they still held relatively high hopes for this year.
Instead, they hold a 26-33 record and are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Still, the Bulls have a shot at reaching the play-in tournament, and they’re hoping a spry Beverley can help them get there.
One of their biggest problems has been the absence of point guard Lonzo Ball, who has been slow to recover from a meniscus injury he suffered over a year ago, and perhaps Beverley could supply Chicago with some of the defense Ball would’ve otherwise given it.
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Bulls Head Coach Comments On Second Half Changes
