Patrick Beverley Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Bulls, Okafor, Ainge, Lopez, Hawks

February 23rd, 2017 at 3:26pm CST by Arthur Hill

Before making today’s deal with Oklahoma City, the Bulls tried to obtain point guard Patrick Beverley from the Rockets, tweets Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago. Chicago reached out to Houston on Wednesday with an offer of Taj Gibson and Isaiah Canaan in exchange for Beverley, but the Rockets turned it down.

There’s more from the Eastern Conference on an active deadline day:

The Sixers didn’t trade center Jahlil Okafor, but it wasn’t because they didn’t try, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). He says Philadelphia made a strong effort to unload Okafor but was unable to find equal value so close to the deadline.
The Celtics were rumored to be seeking Jimmy Butler and Paul George, but decided to stand pat. GM Danny Ainge explained the conservative approach to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link). “We had a lot of conversations,” Ainge said. “There were things we could do to improve our team, but nothing that was good enough to do.” The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski claims that Boston was willing to make both of the Nets‘ first-round picks available (Twitter link).
Nets GM Sean Marks didn’t indicate if he tried to trade Brook Lopez, tweets Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press. “Brook’s here and we’re happy he’s here,” Marks said when asked about the veteran center. “He’s been the face of this franchise for a long time.”
After shipping Mike Scott to the Suns, the Hawks have two open roster spots, notes Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution (Twitter link). The team will focus on the buyout market and possibly D-League callups.

Patrick Beverley Drawing Interest, Unlikely To Be Dealt

February 22nd, 2017 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley is receiving interest on the trade market, reports Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com, who says that that the Bulls, Knicks, and Cavaliers are the primary suitors for Beverley. However, Watkins adds that Beverley would prefer to remain in Houston, and the team currently has no plans to move him (Twitter link).

Having agreed to acquire Lou Williams from the Lakers, the Rockets now have a little more depth in their backcourt, and with James Harden handling point guard duties for the club, perhaps rival teams saw an opportunity to pry Beverley away. However, the Rockets front office and coaches strongly value what Beverley brings to the club, as Watkins writes.

Beverley is a hard-nosed defender on a team known more for its offensive prowess. The 28-year-old also has a very favorable contract. After earning $6MM this season, he’ll make approximately $5.5MM next season and only about $5MM in 2018/19.

Earlier today, we learned that the Rockets have some interest in Iman Shumpert, and the Cavaliers would want Beverley in a deal involving Shumpert, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter). It’s not clear what Chicago or New York would be willing to offer for the veteran guard.

Southwest Notes: D’Antoni, Ferrell, Beverley

February 7th, 2017 at 8:27pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Rockets have won just six of their last 14 games entering Tuesday’s contest, but coach Mike D’Antoni doesn’t believe the team should make a trade to get itself back on track, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 passes along via Twitter. “I like what I got,” D’Antoni said. “I’m sure [Daryl Morey] is going to do his job. You’re always trying to better the team. I’m real happy with what we have.”

Here’s more from the Southwest:

Yogi Ferrell nearly signed in Turkey to play for Darussafaka, the team coached by David Blatt, before the Mavs swooped in to sign him to a 10-day deal, Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated writes. The point guard has been impressive for Dallas and the team officially signed him to a two-year deal earlier today.
Ferrell style of play is a perfect fit for Mavs coach Rick Carlisle‘s system, Fischer writes in the same piece. “You have to attack the rim, you have to know how to score, you have to be a threat on offense, so that it can create not only for yourself and for your teammates as well,” Ferrell said.
Patrick Beverley was not pleased when Dwight Howard entered the Rockets‘ locker room prior to a game against his former team, David Aldrige of NBA.com relays. “Get Dwight Howard out of our locker room,” Beverley said forcefully, as several witnesses told Aldridge. “I’m serious.” Howard and Beverley were teammates in Houston for three seasons.

Southwest Notes: Pondexter, Diallo, Beverley

January 4th, 2017 at 11:02pm CST by Austin Kent

After missing all of last season and the first half of this one, Quincy Pondexter has undergone yet another knee surgery, the Pelicans announced today. The team didn’t provide a return timetable, but Pondexter seems unlikely to return this season. The procedure was the veteran’s third since he last suited up in a game back during the 2015 playoffs, writes Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.

In his last taste of NBA action, his first season with New Orleans, Pondexter averaged 7.2 points in 23.9 minutes on the perimeter. Ever since, the Pelicans have struggled to restock the perimeter with reliably healthy players.

Expect continued opportunities for Pelicans rookie Buddy Hield and free agent acquisition Solomon Hill in Pondexter’s continued absence. The news also ensures that minutes will remain open for Tyreke Evans as his usage ramps up after his own setbacks.

That’s not all out of the Southwest Division:

Rookie Cheick Diallo made waves when he dropped 19 points and 10 rebounds in his first significant taste of NBA action, and the Pelicans aim to keep him with the big league club as often as they can for the remainder of the season. ESPN’s Justin Verrier reports that the team would like to be “hands on” with the player’s weight training regimen.
It was no secret that Harrison Barnes would see plenty of opportunities to score with the Mavs, but it’s been his evolution as a playmaker that has stood out to teammates in Dallas. “He’s starting to see other guys [out of double teams] and get shots for open guys,” guard Devin Harris tells Eddie Sefko of Dallas News. “[That] takes his game to another level.”
After missing three of the last four games, Patrick Beverley is expected to return to the lineup for the Rockets. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Mike D’Antoni is confident that his defensive stopper will be ready in time for Thursday’s run-in with the Thunder.

Southwest Notes: D’Antoni, Beverley, Frazier, Mavs

December 16th, 2016 at 11:06am CST by Arthur Hill

The Rockets‘ Mike D’Antoni is the early favorite to be named Coach of the Year, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. D’Antoni’s up-tempo attack has turned James Harden into an MVP candidate and has made Houston a contender in the West. The Rockets are off to a 19-7 start after a disappointing 41-41 season under Kevin McHale and J.B. Bickerstaff. Stein says a close runner-up to D’Antoni is new Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, whose team is 18-9 despite an injury-filled start to the season.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Rockets are 13-2 since Patrick Beverley‘s return from injury and he may be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Houston has improved to 17th in defensive efficiency since it got Beverley back in the lineup, and he has a shot at becoming the first guard to win the award in 20 years. “I feel like I am the best defensive player in the league right now,” Beverley said. “I hope the whole world sees it. If we win games, more and more people see it. But the last guard to get the Defensive Player of the Year award was Gary Payton. Why not me? I have the same type of killer mindset that he had, the lateral quickness and quick hands. The swagger also. That’s one of my goals, my biggest goal. If I can get a goal like that, I will put my team in a position to win a lot of games.”
Pelicans point guard Tim Frazier will be sidelined with a contusion on a bone in his wrist, tweets Scott Kushner of The Advocate. Frazier estimates his recovery time at a week to 10 days.
Harrison Barnes has been a pleasant surprise in a dreadful season for the Mavericks, states Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News. After joining the team on a max contract this summer, Barnes has responded by averaging 20.4 points per game. In his weekly chat, Cowlishaw also addresses possible trades involving Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut, as well as the potential consequences of shutting down Dirk Nowitzki for the rest of the season.

New CBA Will Benefit Role Players

December 7th, 2016 at 10:57pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rockets co-player representative Patrick Beverley hears that the new collective bargaining agreement will be kinder to role players, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle relays. The new agreement is expected to included a 50 percent increase for the veteran’s minimum salary and for cap exception deals.

“All due respect to all the superstars who are kind of the face of the league, me and [Trevor Ariza, the team’s other co-player representative] talked about the glue guys, the utility guys that you need on your team, make the team possible,” said Beverley. “We know we’re not out there scoring big points, but we do do other things that don’t show on the stat sheet from a business and financial standpoint, we’d like to be rewarded for those things.

“According to the players’ union, the new deal that is set in place helped the glue guys, the utility guys, the blue collar guys … to be able to benefit from this game also.”

In addition to the above changes, restricted free agents will be permitted to sign on the first day of free agency, according to Feigen. The waiting period for teams to match opposing offers on RFAs will be reduced from three to two days and teams will no longer be able to rescind qualifying offers.

Southwest Notes: Holiday, Beverley, Dekker, Davis

November 16th, 2016 at 2:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pelicans will use point guard Jrue Holiday for less than 30 minutes in his first game, tweets Justin Verrier of ESPN.com. Coach Alvin Gentry originally said 35 minutes was the limit, but he revised that down today. Holiday will return to the court Friday after taking a leave of absence to care for his ailing wife.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Rockets will welcome injured point guard Patrick Beverley back Thursday, posts Calvin Watkins on ESPN Now. Beverley, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee October 25th, will immediately be inserted into the starting lineup.
The Rockets are still trying to set a firm rotation after several offseason changes, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The latest move saw Sam Dekker being used as a backup at both forward slots Monday, reducing the minutes for K.J. McDaniels. More changes will come when Beverley is ready. “We’re still trying to hunt and peck a little bit, try to whittle down the rotation,” said coach Mike D’Antoni. “… Then, we’ll have to put Pat in and see how that changes things up. It’ll be a little bit of a process for a couple, three weeks and then we’ll settle in. Obviously, Pat, it will take him a week or so to get the rust off. But he’ll pick up 30 minutes. That’s a big chunk of playing time he’ll be good at.”
Grizzlies rookie Deyonta Davis has already cracked the rotation sooner than expected and he may be ready to earn more playing time, suggests Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. Davis had the team’s highest plus-minus rating in Monday’s win at Utah and is quickly making an impression on his veteran teammates. “I like him very much. His upside is tremendous,” Marc Gasol said. “He cannot be satisfied with one play or one quarter or one season. He’s got to be more and more. He’s got to be hungry. That’s the mindset he’s got to have and I’m going to help him. He can help me win and I’m going to help him be better.”

Southwest Notes: Beverley, Holiday, Hill, Mavericks

November 12th, 2016 at 8:34pm CST by Arthur Hill

After missing the first part of the season with knee problems, Rockets guard Patrick Beverley plans to be ready next week, relays Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Beverley had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee October 25th. Doctors expected him to be sidelined four to six weeks, but he vowed to return earlier. Houston has games scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Beverley didn’t specify which one will mark his comeback. “I’m completely healed,” Beverley said. “I did a lot of contact [Friday]. I’ve been getting a lot of contact. It’s up to me to get my rhythm. I don’t want to come in and play limited minutes. When I come back, I’m going to be full force. I can’t say what coach is going to do or how many minutes I’m going to play. But when I come back, I come back to play an overtime, a double overtime game.”

There’s more news out of the Southwest Division:

The Pelicans are still waiting for confirmation that Jrue Holiday will be returning soon, according to William Guillory of The Times-Picayune. A published report Friday indicated that Holiday, who has taken a leave of absence to care for his ailing wife, will be back next week. However, coach Alvin Gentry cautions that nothing is definite until Holiday provides confirmation. “We’re anticipating him coming back real soon, but we don’t have any answers until we hear back from Jrue and his people,” Gentry said. “When we hear from Jrue and his people, that’s when it’ll become official. We want him back as soon as we possibly can, but we’ll only know that when Jrue and his agent say, ‘Hey, he’s ready to come back and this is when he’s gonna be back’.”
Gentry likes how Solomon Hill performed Thursday in his first game off the bench, relays Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com. Hill came to New Orleans in July on a four-year, $48MM contract and began the season as a starter. “He was a little more comfortable in that situation, and it gave him more opportunity to do a little more with that second group than he would with the first group,” Gentry said.
A slow start hasn’t changed the Mavericks‘ goal of making the playoffs, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Free agent addition Seth Curry and rookie Dorian Finney-Smith have helped right the ship after an 0-5 start, and the Mavs are looking forward to getting injured stars Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams back in the lineup. “This is a playoff organization,” said Justin Anderson. “But it’s way early in the season. Once Dirk gets healthy and D-Will gets back and we start rolling with those guys, I wouldn’t be surprised with the talent we have if we start reeling off some wins in a row.”

Western Notes: Nowitzki, Rubio, Beverley

November 11th, 2016 at 5:44pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Mavs big man Dirk Nowitzki, who is recovering from a strained right Achilles tendon, told Marc Stein of ESPN.com, that he has resumed on-court work as he moves toward a return to the lineup. “It’s definitely better, but I really haven’t done much yet,” Nowitzki told Stein. “Today was good, but we didn’t go anything close to full speed. Just started moving on the court a bit. We don’t want to rush anything and go back to where we were last week. So if I feel anything this weekend, they’re going to ease off again. Obviously I want to play in the Garden on Monday [against the Knicks] and I want to play in Boston [on Wednesday] — two of my favorite road spots. But I just don’t know at this point if it’s going to happen.”

Here’s more from out West:

Ricky Rubio, who has been out of action after suffering a sprained right elbow, may be nearing a return after practicing with the Wolves today, the team announced (via Twitter).
Rockets guard Patrick Beverley, who underwent knee surgery last month, could be cleared to return to practice as early as next week, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). If that is indeed the case, Beverley could be back in Houston’s rotation by the end of November, Watkins adds.
James Harden has been impressive for the Rockets under new head coach Mike D’Antoni, but despite the guard putting up NBA-worthy numbers for Houston, the team still has work to do in order to be considered contenders, Oliver Maroney of Basketball Insiders writes. “We pretty much think James can do anything in Houston,” Morey told Basketball Insiders. “We’re happy he is showing it but we aren’t focused on it – we’re trying to improve the defense and get more wins. James is playing great. He’s the leader we need to go deep into the playoffs.”
Lance Stephenson, who was recently waived by the Pelicans after sustaining an injury, was a “model citizen” during his time in New Orleans, team sources told Stein in a separate article.

Beverley Plans Early Return From Knee Surgery

October 30th, 2016 at 8:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has set a goal of November 15th-21st to return from knee surgery, tweets Mark Berman of Fox 26.

Beverley underwent the arthroscopic procedure on his left knee on Tuesday and was projected to be out of action for four to six weeks. However, Calvin Watkins posts on ESPN Now that Beverley started lifting weights with the knee today and plans to begin running this week.

Beverley told Berman it was “very difficult” to be sidelined by the injury, but he understands he has to be “professional” and focus on being ready for the rest of the season (Twitter link).