Patrick Beverley signs with the Chicago Bulls, bringing the Marshall alumnus back to his hometown
The Chicago Bulls will have a homecoming rather than a reunion.
Veteran guard and Chicago native Patrick Beverley signed with the Bulls for the rest of the season, the team announced Tuesday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news Monday. The 34-year-old Marshall alumnus reached a buyout of his contract with the Orlando Magic after the Los Angeles Lakers traded him at the deadline.
The Bulls had been considered a possible landing spot for nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook on the buyout market, but Wojnarowski reported earlier Monday that Westbrook plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Westbrook — who played for Bulls coach Billy Donovan with the Oklahoma City Thunder — also was traded by the Lakers at the deadline and reached a buyout with the Utah Jazz.
To make room for Beverley, the Bulls waived center Tony Bradley along with two-way forward Malcolm Hill. They’re expected to sign forward Terry Taylor to a two-way deal, Wojnarowski reported Tuesday.
Beverley expressed his excitement about returning to Chicago before the contract was even inked, retweeting the original report Monday with the word “yea” and a heart emoji. He continued to hype the deal as a “kid from Chicago” and responded to fans welcoming him home.
A three-time All-Defensive selection (one first team, two second teams) and the 2017 winner of the NBA Hustle Award, Beverley has averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals over 11 seasons with the Houston Rockets, Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers.
Drafted by the Lakers in 2009 in the second round out of Arkansas, Beverley spent his first three pro seasons playing overseas in Greece and Russia.
