Clippers free agent guard Patrick Beverley will meet with up to five teams. Could the Golden State Warriors, who need backcourt depth, be one?
The Golden State Warriors felt the wrath of Patrick Beverley in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. He hounded Kevin Durant for much of the series, forcing him into difficult shots.
That being said, Beverley is now going to hit the open market, and apparently, he’s going to meet with “as many as five teams,” per Basketball Insiders. While that’s huge news, the two confirmed teams that he has interest in should give Golden State hope.
One of them is the LA Lakers. When it’s all said and done, the Lakers will only be able to offer Beverley a minimum or their MLE, which could be more valuable than Golden State’s given that GS would be forced to offer the taxpayer MLE.
LA, who just traded for Anthony Davis, will be strapped for cash and still have to fill out their roster. LA may still have bigger fish to fry and may only offer a minimum to Beverley. They’ll need a better player than Beverley with their MLE to compete in the West.
It could be up to Golden state to then reach out to the gritty 30-year-old and make a relationship possible.
Golden State would be a great fit for Beverley, and he’d easily command and secure their taxpayer mid-level exception.
Last season, Beverley averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. However, he’d beloved and respected by many teams for the impact he has that doesn’t show up on the box score.
Along with LA, Beverley, who is a Chicago native, is expected to meet with the Bulls. While that’s important and they’d be a threat to sign the guard, they can outpay either Golden State or Los Angeles by a large margin. He’s a Bull if he wants money.
The Warriors need to reach out. After Klay Thompson’s ACL tear and Durant’s Achilles rupture, the Warriors backcourt is as desperate for bodies and talent as ever, and Beverley is an ironman that’ll take on the challenge defensively while Steph can carry the load offensively.
It’d be a match made in heaven for Beverley and the Dubs.
At the very least, the Warriors should reach out to the guard. They could use his services, and he’d be a solid addition for the MLE if Cousins or a player like Rudy Gay can not be added.