PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers just nabbed a rugged, in-your-face point guard.
Patrick Beverley has agreed to a one-year, minimum salary contract to play for the Sixers, a league source confirms. Beverley was first to report the news on The Pat Bev Podcast. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound player can finalize his contract on Thursday.
Beverley is reuniting with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. The 11-year veteran played his first five NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets while Morey was the team’s general manager.
He played last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and his hometown Chicago Bulls. Beverley averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steal in 45 games with the Lakers before being traded to Orlando Magic on Feb. 9. After being waived three days later, Beverley signed with the Bulls on Feb. 21.
In 22 games with Chicago, Beverley averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals. His presence should improve the Sixers’ poor perimeter defense. Beverley, who turns 35 years old on July 12, is a three-time All-Defensive selection.
He’s also familiar with several of his new Sixers teammates.
Beverley played with James Harden as a member of the Rockets and Tobias Harris with the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the Harden and Sixers are working on a trade for the 10-time All-Star. So there’s a chance that he won’t reunite with his former teammate.
On Friday, two former Sixers agreed to terms with new teams.
Georges Niang agreed to a three-year, $26 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shake Milton accepted a two-year deal for $10 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Free agency began at 6 p.m. Friday.
