Patrick Beverley was part of a Clippers team that was supposed to take over the NBA when they traded for Paul George from the OKC Thunder and signed Kawhi Leonard at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. However, some injuries and tensions in the locker room took their toll and they never fulfilled the potential they had at the time.
The role players around the superstar duo that were supposed to make them the best team in the NBA all left in the ensuing seasons. Montrezl Harrell was the first to go, signing with the rival Los Angeles Lakers, then Lou Williams was traded to the Hawks in a deal involving Rajon Rondo.
Pat Bev was the last to leave, after he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies at the start of the 2021-22 season, who then subsequently moved him on to the Timberwolves. All this background brought us to Monday night, when Beverley faced the Clippers with his new Wolves team.
The point guard had an excellent game, scoring 11 points, but more impressively dropping 12 assists in the 122-104 win. Eric Bledsoe, the player Beverley was traded for, managed just 1 point and 5 assists. Speaking after the game, Beverley addressed the fact that the Clippers had traded him for his lack of playmaking abilities.
“I wanted to come out here & pass the ball. One of the reasons [they traded me], Clippers was always looking for another guard cuz they said I wasn’t a playmaker, so I wanted to set the tone with that tonight.”
Beverley has been averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 assists for the Timberwolves in the games he has appeared in for them, while still maintaining his status as an absolute pest on defense. Beverley has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind and it’s no surprise to see he took it personally when the Clippers traded him, resulting in this revenge game from the Timberwolves guard.
