Point guard Patrick Beverley has agreed to join the Chicago Bulls, after it looked like he potentially heading to the Golden State Warriors.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star has since explained his decision to sign for the Bulls, after being waived by the Orlando Magic. Beverley was involved in a four-team trade deal, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets also in the mix.
The Magic and Beverley agreed to a contract buyout three days after joining, and it was then a straight shootout between the Bulls and the Warriors for his next destination. But it appears that family was behind his decision to join the Bulls, in a heartfelt explanation.
Beverley was born in Chicago, and is now heading back home for the first time in his career as a 34-year-old. The opportunity to head back to Illinois was too much for Beverley to pass up, and he's since explained the decision in detail.
"I'm going to be taking my talents back home," Beverley said. "It was between Golden State and the Bulls. Obviously, it's always good to play with a lot of great talent in Golden State, but y'know, a lot of guards over there.
"So, I figured I could make a playoff push with the Bulls right now, and kinda pop them up a little bit. The east is kinda weak. I'm excited man, I'm excited.
"I get to take my son to school. I get to take my son and baby girl to school, I get to pick them up, I get to rep my city on my chest."
But Beverley was also impressed with how they handled negotiations, and was won over by the franchise. "They kept it real with me, like, ‘We don’t want you to wait, Pat'," Beverley added.
"'If this is an opportunity you want to take, go ahead, we respect it, we know there’s a lot of teams after you.' So, I felt like the Bulls were the best fit.
"I appreciate Golden State. I appreciate the opportunity that was there, if it was there. It worked out the way it was supposed to."
The Bulls will need his help too, as they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference. They're currently dealing with a record of 26-33, and Beverley could make his debut when they return to action on Friday night.
