Patrick Beverley agrees to new deal to return to the LA Clippers

Long thought to be on his way out of Los Angeles, Patrick Beverley has reportedly agreed to stay with the LA Clippers on a three-year deal.

Over seven hours have passed since the NBA’s free agency period officially began, and LA Clippers fans finally have something to celebrate: Patrick Beverley is coming back for three more years.

The news broke around 1:20 in the morning on the East coast, and was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Beverley’s new deal is reportedly a three-year contract worth $40 million in total. There is currently no information available in regards to the guarantees or options of his contract.

Beverley was the heart of and soul of this LA Clippers team over the past few seasons, and even when he missed all but 11 games during the 2017-2018 campaign, he was a vital part of the organization. His tenacity always set the tone for the Clippers, especially in matchups in which they were the underdogs.

Signing Beverley will also give the Clippers a leg up on the Los Angeles Lakers in the pursuit of superstar free agent Kawhi Leonard, as Beverley will likely be a part of the Clippers’ pitch when they officially meet with Leonard later this week. And no, Beverley’s new salary will not interfere with the Clippers’ chances to sign Leonard to a max-level contract.

Beverley was arguably one of the most desirable point guards on the market this summer, with teams such as the Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns all showing some interest in the two-time All-Defensive point guard. Ultimately, though, it seems as though Beverley is prioritizing winning over earning a more lucrative contract.

Although several of the Clippers’ top free agent targets have come off the board, including Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford, LA could arguably still contend for a title next season if they can sign Leonard away from Toronto and the Lakers this summer.

Beverley played a major role in the Clippers’ efforts this past season, and was a big reason why the team was able to “overachieve” and win as many games as they did. With a star like Leonard added to the mix, the Clippers could go from a 48-win team to one pushing 60.

The LA Clippers are still the underdogs in Los Angeles as it stands, but if Leonard joins Beverley on the Clippers later this week, they could be onto something special — with or without a second star.