Chicago Bulls bringing Patrick Beverley becomes more imenent after the Lonzo Ball-Anthony Davis trade and Beverley’s recent comments.
The Chicago Bulls and unrestricted free agent Patrick Beverley have shown mutual interest throughout the past few weeks even before the official start of the off-season about the Bulls bringing the homegrown Chicago product back home.
With the Bulls having a need at point guard due to Kris Dunn not living up to expectations with the team, there has been significant interest about the Bulls prioritizing adding a point guard. Whether it be through free agency and/or the draft.
Two players names that have consistently come up as far as trades or free agency is Beverley and the Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball. With Ball set to be sent to New Orleans as part of a package to the Lakers to acquire Anthony Davis in the pending blockbuster deal, as the first major move of what should be a really interesting off-season.
That seemingly almost takes Ball out of the equation for the Bulls now. Though there have been other players like D’Angelo Russell and even Malcolm Brogdon mentioned as possible targets by the Bulls, a player with veteran experience like Beverley seems even more of a legitimate and almost more imminent possibility for the Bulls to try to add now after the recent pending blockbuster deal sending AD to LA.
Not only would Beverley give the Bulls a legitimate starting point guard, but he brings a toughness and tenacity that is missing from the team and would be a real spark for such a young core. The tough as nails and blue-collar type that Bulls fans and the city of Chicago would really appreciate.
Growing up in Chicago and being the type of homegrown heroes the Bulls tend to have a fascination with signing definitely helps.
Not to mention these recent comments Beverley told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune about possibly coming back home:
"“I am Chicago. I’m from Chicago. I bleed Chicago. I really think I can help the city. I think I can save the city. I inspire already. And I’d be a great inspiration just walking around the city of Chicago, knowing I’m from there, knowing that someone made it out and you can go and do the same. I’m a Chicago kid. So of course I’m open to playing for the Chicago Bulls if that’s a team that’s interested in me. At the same time, any decision that is made, it’s never personal. It’s always business. I have to make the right decision for me and my family.”"
The type of beating heart play his heart out player that likes to play defense and wouldn’t back down from a challenge from anyone. Whether it’s Kevin Durant, who he took the challenge of helping defend at several times in the Clippers first round series against the at the time two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, who they pushed to six games.
You can see why the Clippers want to bring Beverley back, but aren’t exactly making it a priority over trying to bring in a big-name free agent like Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving. Which makes you also wonder why it doesn’t seem the Clippers are trying to make it even more of a priority.
That motivation type player, who doesn’t like to take a play off and wouldn’t let his teammates either. The way he lead the Clippers and got under the skin of Durant, which many around the league noticed is why he would also be a great and much-needed addition for a young Bulls team that can really use a player like that to help push them over the edge. Even pushing players like Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Zach LaVine to be even better players.
Though he averaged only 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 39.7 percent shooting from 3-point range this past season, Beverley brings the type of hard-nosed and lay it all out on the floor mentality that Jim Boylen and John Paxson really want in a point guard. Not to mention he would be a really great mentor even if they draft a point guard with their No. 7 pick in the draft later this week.