{"id":123690,"date":"2025-02-16T07:19:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-16T12:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=123690"},"modified":"2025-02-16T12:18:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-16T17:18:36","slug":"nba-veteran-reportedly-has-several-possible-suitors-after-returning-from-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/16\/nba-veteran-reportedly-has-several-possible-suitors-after-returning-from-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Veteran Reportedly Has Several Possible Suitors After Returning From Overseas"},"content":{"rendered":"

After considering the move for a while,<\/a> NBA veteran Patrick Beverley<\/a> has finally parted ways with Israeli club Hapoel Tel-Aviv. It was reported to be a mutually agreeable separation.<\/p>\n

Beverley<\/a>, who began his professional career in Europe, signed with Hapoel Tel-Aviv this fall after playing 12 years in the NBA. He appeared in 73 games in 2023-24 with the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> and Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>. He had been playing reasonably well for Hapoel but had not seen any action since February 1 due to being suspended.<\/p>\n

NBA Veteran Returning From Playing Overseas, Who Needs A Backup Point Guard?<\/h2>\n

According to BasketNews<\/a>, Beverley had issues with Dimitris Itoudis and received a suspension for mocking Hapoel’s coach on social media. Beverley started 22 of his 23 appearances for Hapoel, averaging 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 4.1 assists. He also drained 1.7 treys a game with shooting splits of 43.5\/37.1\/89.4.<\/p>\n

Beverley should garner interest from NBA clubs<\/a>. While the 36-year-old is the epitome of a malcontent, he is still a pesky on-ball defender who can get into the paint and knock down tough shots. He is also a good three-point shooter and ball-handler who doesn’t turn the ball over.<\/p>\n

Beverley has played for seven teams during his NBA tenure. He averages 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 turnovers. The 6-2 combo guard averages 1.5 treys a game in 666 career contests while shooting 41.3\/37.1\/76.<\/p>\n

Teams Possibly Interested In Patrick Beverley<\/h3>\n

Who could be interested in Beverley? Cleveland,<\/a> Milwaukee<\/a>, Minnesota<\/a>, Sacramento<\/a>, Boston,<\/a> Memphis<\/a>, Denver, Houston, and Phoenix immediately come to mind.\u00a0 If a team wants Beverley to be available for the playoffs, they must sign him before March 1. However, if Beverley inks a deal, he must serve his four-game suspension for his actions in the Milwaukee-Indiana playoff series last season.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Cavaliers<\/h4>\n

This season, Cleveland is the favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. For good reason, the Cavaliers are the conference’s most complete and talented team. The Cavs (44-10), who have won four straight and eight of nine, have a five and one-half games lead over Boston.<\/p>\n

At first glance, the Cavaliers really don’t need to add anything. But they have an open spot and are signing Beverley for a deal for the rest of the season. Adding Beverley would alleviate Donovan Mitchell’s<\/a> having to play point guard and help their defense. Beverley would project to step into the Cavs’ backup point guard role.<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers haven’t had a true backup point guard since Ricky Rubio<\/a> decided to step away from the team all season. Since then traded, Caris LeVert<\/a> and Ty Jerome<\/a> have served in that role.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks<\/h4>\n

Milwaukee (29-24) has struggled this year. Some of the Bucks’ issues have been injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, Damian Lillard<\/a>, and the since-traded Khris Middleton<\/a>. However, the biggest issue for the Bucks has been their backcourt with Andre Jackson Jr.,<\/a> Gary Trent Jr.,<\/a> Pat Connaughton,<\/a> and Ryan Rollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rollins and Stanley Umade<\/a>, the Bucks’ two-way players, have appeared in 37 and 19 contests this season, respectively. Rollins isn’t really a point guard, and the Bucks aren’t great at creating turnovers. The Bucks have an open roster spot.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Timberwolves<\/h4>\n

Minnesota (31-25) has taken a step back after reaching the Western Conference finals last season, the second time in team history they have done so. Still, the Timberwolves are talented, led by Anthony Edwards<\/a> and Julius Randle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves could certainly use some reinforcements in the backcourt. Their point guards rank in the bottom five in the league, as Mike Conley<\/a> has been awful, while Donte DiVincenzo<\/a>\u00a0has\u00a0not played since January 16. The Wolves have an open roster spot.<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings<\/h4>\n

Sacramento has won four of its seven games since trading De’Aaron Fox<\/a>. The Kings are tied with Golden State for the last Play-In spot at 28-27. But the Fox trade left the Kings’ backcourt a little shaky. The Kings recently signed Markelle Fultz<\/a> to a rest-of-the-season contract, and Daishen Nix<\/a> is on a 10-day deal. Even with those transactions, they have an open roster spot and are $2.5 million below the tax.<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics<\/h4>\n

Boston has been playing its best basketball since the end of November, having won 10 of its last 14. The Celtics (39-16) added Torrey Craig<\/a> to boost their bench and have an open roster spot. However, Jrue Holiday<\/a> is dealing with a shoulder issue that forced him to miss the last four games before the All-Star break. While Peyton Pritchard<\/a> can handle an increased role, the C’s may need an experienced veteran if they have concerns about Holiday’s availability down the stretch.<\/p>\n

Memphis Grizzlies<\/h4>\n

Memphis could be a factor in the West this spring. The Grizzlies are second in the West with a 38-14 record.\u00a0 Ja Morant<\/a> and Jaren Jackson\u00a0 Jr.<\/a> are terrific. But the Grizzlies could use an experienced backup point guard who brings toughness, like Marcus Smart, whom they just dealt away. Also, turnovers are an issue for the Grizzlies, whose backcourt commits 8.1 a game\u2014the third-most.<\/p>\n

Memphis doesn’t have an open roster spot, though Johnny Davis,<\/a> whom the Griz received as part of the Smart trade, could be “bought out.” The Grizzlies don’t have to worry about the luxury tax as they are over $7 million below the threshold.<\/p>\n

Denver Nuggets<\/h4>\n

Denver has one of the worst benches in the league. Injuries have likely played a little part in that, though the Nuggets came into the season knowing that depth was an issue. Peyton Watson<\/a>, a regular in Michael Malone<\/a>‘s rotation, is out until March, and Russell Westbrook<\/a> has been dealing with a hamstring issue that has cost him six games.<\/p>\n

Denver doesn’t have an open roster spot. However, Vlatko Cancar<\/a> and Hunter Tyson<\/a> would be candidates to be waived. The Nuggets have a disabled player exception for DaRon Holmes III<\/a> that expires mid-March.<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns<\/h4>\n

Phoenix (26-28) is in danger of being a dumpster fire. The Suns, who have the highest payroll, are one and one-half games out of the final Play-In Spot in the West. The Suns have several issues, including injuries and two veterans\u2014Monte Morris <\/a>and Damion Lee<\/a>\u2014who have done nothing.<\/p>\n

Phoenix does not have an open roster spot. However, Lee, Morris, and Bol Bol<\/a> are among the players who could get waived.<\/p>\n

Where Will Patrick Beverley End Up?<\/h3>\n

That is a great question. There are no indications that there are leaders who will sign the 36-year-old. I do believe Cleveland, Boston, Minnesota, and Milwaukee would be ideal fits.<\/p>\n

Bovada<\/a> has Phoenix as the odds-on favorite to ink Beverley at -120. The Canadian Sportsbook lists the Brooklyn Nets (+325) and the Philadelphia 76ers (+325) next. They have the Los Angeles Lakers ( +600) fourth, followed by several International Clubs: Real Madrid Baloncesto(+1400 ), KK Partizan NIS (+2000), Virtus Bologna (+2000), Olimpia Milano (+2000), and BC Dubai (+2500).<\/p>\n

Phoenix and the Lakers make the most sense. I also see a case for the 76ers and Nets, as they have open roster spots. But those two teams are not guaranteed to make the Play-In Tournament, let alone the playoffs, and neither squad can stay healthy. The Sixers are slightly below the tax line, though the Nets could sign Beverley for the remainder of the season without any worries about going over the threshold.<\/p>\n

With one open roster spot as Chuma Okeke and David Roddy on two-way deals, the Sixers are probably the likelier team to sign Beverley. Does Philadelphia and Brooklyn want to sacrifice the continued development of their younger players for a chance at possibly not even making the playoffs?<\/p>\n

Philadelphia just converted Jared Butler<\/a> and Justin Edwards’<\/a> two-way contract to a standard deal. Also, Ricky Council IV<\/a> has shown some promise in his second year.<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: \u00a9 Trevor Ruszkowski Imagine Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After considering the move for a while, NBA veteran Patrick Beverley has finally parted ways with Israeli club Hapoel Tel-Aviv. It was reported to be a mutually agreeable separation. Beverley, who began his professional career in Europe, signed with Hapoel Tel-Aviv this fall after playing 12 years in the NBA. He appeared in 73 games […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":123697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,6,9,20,2,26,32,15,21,62,13],"tags":[297,494],"class_list":["post-123690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-nets","category-cavaliers","category-nuggets","category-featured","category-lakers","category-grizzlies","category-bucks","category-timberwolves","category-nba","category-76ers","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-patrick-beverley"],"modified_by":"Zach Kircher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123690"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124049,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123690\/revisions\/124049"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}