Mavericks' Free Agent Target Analysis: Patrick Beverley
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve looked at many free agent possibilities for the Mavs, but we haven’t looked at any point guards. The Mavs will most likely have at least three point guards on their roster next year: Devin Harris, Raymond Felton (reportedly opting in), and J.J. Barea (expected to resign). None of those three should be a starter, so where do the Mavs look for that guy? Well they have the 21st overall pick in the draft, and many people expect them to use that pick on a starting point guard. Another option is through free agency, obviously. The point guard market is extremely thin this summer, but there are a few guys the Mavs may pursue. Rajon Rondo would have been one of those guys if we hadn’t traded for him and if he hadn’t completely screwed us. Another option would’ve been Goran Dragic, but he will most likely end up back with Miami after being traded there during the trade deadline this past season. There have been rumors all over social media that the Mavs may pursue a trade for Ty Lawson, but that would cost a lot of assets that Dallas doesn’t currently have. A trade for Lawson won’t be happening before Dallas either, A) strikes out on all of their main targets, or B) they land one of them and can still make a move for him. Let’s look at some real options Dallas has this summer in free agency.
The best and most realistic option for the Mavs this summer seems to be the starting point guard from the hated Houston Rockets. This name had been thrown out there a lot before this week, but it’s really just starting to catch wind now. The player I’m hinting at is Patrick Beverley. Dallas has some connections with this point guard, and they may just end up going after him in the summer. Let’s discuss this possibility and why he may be brought to the best city in Texas (taking shots at you, Houston).
Career History:
Patrick, or Pat, Beverley attended the University of Arkansas for two years and was a perfect all-around player. Beverley became a candidate for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award in his sophomore year, but he brought some trouble upon him. Beverley had a classmate write an entire paper for him and was caught by his professor. Pat said that he didn’t need to raise his grades, he just wanted to get the paper done. This forced Beverley to leave the Razorbacks’ basketball team. He didn’t declare for the 2008 draft, but instead he went overseas to play for the Ukrainian team, BC Dnipro. He dominated overseas averaging about 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, while also shooting about 40% from the three point line. Beverley didn’t look at this one year overseas as a bad thing, saying “I was forced to mature a lot. I think me being around that setting forced me to become a better man and better player on and off the court.”Still eligible for the 2009 draft, Pat entered expecting to be picked in the late second round. The LA Lakers selected Beverley with the 42nd pick, but he was later sent to the Miami Heat. He didn’t make the team and once again played overseas in Greece where he helped his team to win the Greek Cup. In the summer of 2010, Beverley rejoined the Heat to play in the Summer League, but was once again waived before the season started. Once again, Beverley had to go overseas for the 2010-2011 season and signed with the Russian team, Spartak St. Petersburg. Beverley played with this team for the 2010-2011 season and the 2011-2012 season. He won the Eurocup MVP (pretty big deal) and decided it was time to head to the NBA again. The Houston Rockets gave him his first real shot in the second half of the 2012-2013 season. He started his NBA career in the D-League for just one week, and then got to play in the big time. Pat played 41 games for Houston that season and eventually worked his way to the backup point guard position. He averaged about 6 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds in that rookie season. Beverley continued to excel in his second and third season with the Rockets. He became the starter in his second season and is now averaging about 10 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and shoots about 35% from the three-point line. Beverley has had plenty of time to mature and turn into a real player, so let’s look at all of the reasons he and the Mavs might unite this offseason.
PROS AND CONS OF PAT BEVERLEY:
Pros:
• Three Point Shooting: Beverley has been an above average three-point shooter since college, and that hasn’t changed. Beverley is nearly a 40% shooter from behind the arc and knows how to get open without the ball. He doesn’t need much space when he’s shooting the three, because he has an insane amount of confidence when he’s shooting. He makes nearly two threes per game, contributing to over half of his average points. He doesn’t really have a noticeably preferred spot to shoot it from, but he seems to be open the most in the corner. He killed the Mavs last season shooting it, so maybe next season he can help them out instead.
• Defense: Maybe it’s the same drive that got him from overseas to the NBA, but Patrick Beverley is a Pit-bull on defense. He never backs away from an opponent, no matter the size or talent level. He will do whatever it takes to stop his opponent from scoring on him. His aggressiveness is unmatched, and he will stop whomever he has to. He plays the passing lanes extremely well, averaging about 1 steal per game, but always coming up with them in the most critical moments. His lack of size and strength are more than made up for with his aggressive nature and pure determination. The Mavs thought that the Rajon Rondo trade would save their perimeter defense, but he wasn’t motivated enough to do it. Beverley could be the guy the Mavs have been searching for.
• Mutual Friend: Yes, the Dallas Mavericks and Patrick Beverley have a mutual friend. That friend is Chandler Parsons. Parsons is known for being able to recruit free agents to his team (when he was with Houston), and maybe he’ll be able to lure Pat to Dallas. Parsons and Beverley have apparently been in contact every day, and that could help him come to Dallas. CP sent out a tweet earlier this week to Beverley saying, “Yo @patbev21 (Beverley’s Twitter), see you this weekend!!! #flexcam”. Now, whether that means anything, I have no idea, but it does seem like Parsons isn’t worried about making it known that he may be trying to recruit his friend to Dallas.
Cons:
• Attacking the Basket: Beverley is very aggressive, but sometimes, that isn’t a good thing. Beverley is a great outside shooter, but he lacks the size to be able to finish around the rim. He attempts to attack the basket way too often, and that sometimes hurts his team. If he gets fouled, Patrick is an incredible free throw shooter and will knock it down. If Beverley doesn’t get fouled, he most likely won’t be finishing in any kind of traffic.
• Loyal to Houston: Beverley never got a real shot in the NBA, until Houston gave him one. This has made Patrick fall in love with the Rockets organization. In his exit interview, Beverley said this to reporters about leaving this summer: “I’m a loyal guy, [Houston is] the only team that took a chance on me.” This makes it difficult to pull him away, but nothing is impossible.
• Restricted: Well, mix this with the loyalty to Houston, and it does become almost impossible to pull him away. Beverley is a very easy player to overpay, much like Parsons, but the Mavs can’t afford to pay him like they did CP. He’s going to be worth taking a shot on, but not worth overpaying. I can’t see the Rockets letting someone sign this guy without matching, but, once again, stranger things have happened.
Beverley is a perfect three and D player, but he’s going to cost some money. The Mavs will most likely use the draft (whether that’s trading or drafting) to find their point guard, but Pat would be such a perfect fit. Beverley would go perfect with the Mavericks, but don’t expect it to happen. Houston won’t be letting this guy walk unless someone decides to vastly overpay him. I would love to see Beverley in a Mavs jersey next season, but not for too much money. This guy is going to have an interesting offseason. It would take a lot to get him here, but let’s cross our fingers that he does for the right price.
