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Mavericks Rumors: Patrick Beverley Signing 'Very Much in Play' in Free Agency
June 25, 2019
The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly expected to meet with Los Angeles Clippers combo guard Patrick Beverley early in the NBA free-agent moratorium period, which opens at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.
Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday that signing Beverley "is very much in play for the Mavericks," who are expected to face competition from the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Mavericks feature a promising core of Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic and power forward Kristaps Porzingis, but the rest of the roster needs work before they move into the contender category.
Beverley averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists across 78 appearances for the Clippers in 2018-19. He shot 39.7 percent from beyond the arc and could provide valuable minutes for Dallas in a three-and-D role. The team ranked 27th in three-point shooting percentage (34.0) last season.
The Mavs won't be alone in their pursuit. Along with the Lakers, Sixers and a potential effort by the Clips to re-sign him, the Chicago native has expressed interest in returning home to join the Bulls.
Earlier this month, he told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune he's "open the anything" in free agency but said going to the Bulls was a particularly attractive option:
"I am Chicago. I'm from Chicago. I bleed Chicago. I really think I can help the city. I think I can save the city. I inspire already. And I'd be a great inspiration just walking around the city of Chicago, knowing I'm from there, knowing that someone made it out and you can go and do the same.
"I'm a Chicago kid. So of course I'm open to playing for the Chicago Bulls if that's a team that's interested in me. At the same time, any decision that is made, it's never personal. It's always business. I have to make the right decision for me and my family."
So, the Mavericks might have to do some convincing to get Beverley to Dallas, but team owner Mark Cuban told Townsend he's ready for the challenge of free agency.
"This is when I get to do my job, right?" Cuban said. "So I'm excited to do it. Now is when I go to work."
Townsend listed the Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics' Al Horford and Milwaukee Bucks' Nikola Mirotic among the Mavs' other prime free-agent targets and noted Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic will likely fall outside the team's price range.