The Philadelphia 76ers are adding to their backcourt with one of the NBA’s loudest voices. NBA Insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report reported that the Sixers have signed Beverley to a one-year-deal.
“Free agent guard Pat Beverley has reached an agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $3.2 million deal,” Haynes wrote.
Beverley spent the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. In the 67 games he played combined for both teams, Beverley averaged 6.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 33.5% from three. Beverley is also known for being quite the pest when he takes the court.
Beverley is also a former teammate of both James Harden and Tobias Harris, having played with the former on the Houston Rockets from 2014 to 2017 and the latter with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2018 to 2019. Though he has reunited with some of his former teammates, Beverley’s reunion with Harden may not last for too long, knowing Harden has opted in with the expectation of being traded.
This is welcome news for the Sixers, as they lost Shake Milton to the Minnesota Timberwolves on June 30.
There’s ‘Strong Optimism’ James Harden Will Join Clippers
After it was confirmed that James Harden was opting in with the Sixers, The Athletic’s Sam Amick provided the details on who Harden wants to play for next and why he wants out on June 29.
“According to sources directly involved in the situation on both sides, the Los Angeles native wants to play for the Clippers and the Sixers are already in the process of discussing his desired move. Harden is, according to sources close to him, extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the organization.”
Amick added that not only is there a hope that a deal could be struck, but that the two Clippers stars are all for bringing in Harden onto the team.
“Sources say, however, that there is strong optimism on Harden’s side that it will indeed happen. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining their core, according to sources.”
Sixers Among Teams Interested in Damian Lillard
After reporting that Damian Lillard had requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski listed the Sixers as one of teams interested in acquiring Lillard.
“The Heat, Clippers, and 76ers are three teams that will have interest in exploring trades for Lillard, sources tell ESPN. The Blazers are expected to value deals that would bring them back young players and draft assets,” Wojnarowski wrote via his personal Twitter.
It’s very possible that Harden wanting a trade away from the Sixers and the Sixers’ interest in Lillard could be linked, as both are on expensive contracts that could potentially lead to Harden being sent to the Clippers, Lillard being sent to the Sixers, and assets being sent to the Trail Blazers. It might be hard to pull that off, though, seeing how the Miami Heat are reportedly Lillard’s preference, according to David Aldridge.
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Sixers Sign Patrick Beverley: Report