The LA Clippers have traded Patrick Beverly, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Eric Bledsoe, the Clippers announced Monday.
The deal saves the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax and makes an $8.3 million traded-player exception they'll have a year to use.
Bledsoe, 31, was drafted by the Clippers in 2010 and spent the first three years of his career with the franchise. A two-time member of the NBA's All-Defensive team, Bledsoe is expected to play a key role in the Clippers guard rotation.
“We are excited to add Eric, a strong, versatile guard and an established playmaker who can attack paint and defend multiple positions,” Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. "Eric started his career with The Clippers and we are happy to have him back."
The trade gives the Grizzlies pay-cap flexibility in the summer of 2022, when Bledsoe is guaranteed $3.9 million out of $19.3 million in the final year of his deal. Memphis now has 16 guaranteed contracts and the deal will be open for trades for some of the players returning, the sources said. The Grizzlies are open-minded about how they can all fit into the team, but Memphis already has a packed roster.
Beverly was a popular Clippers player, with whom he spent the last four years of his career. He lost his initial job defending Reggie Jackson in the Western Conference playoffs. Beverly ($14.3 million) and Rondo ($7.5 million) are both expiring contracts for the 2020-21 season. Oturu was the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 draft and had a solid NBA Summer League side with the Clippers.
New Orleans traded Bledsoe to the Grizzlies to make pay-cap room before the July draft, and Memphis was working to move Bledsoe to a new destination.
Bledsoe played 81 games and started 25 games as a rookie, but the Clippers acquired Chris Paul the following season, limiting Bledsoe's playing time. After three seasons with the Clippers, Bledsoe was traded to Phoenix. He played his best basketball at Phoenix in 2016-17, averaging 21.1 points and 6.3 rebounds.
He was traded to Milwaukee the following season, but was dealt by Milwaukee in a four-team trade with New Orleans, which sent the Bucks a jury holiday in November 2020. Bledsoe averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 assists in 71 games last season.
He joins a Clippers team that re-signed Jackson to free agency after Jackson shone in the playoffs. With Kawhi Leonard expected to miss a significant amount of time this coming season as he recovers from surgery to repair a partially torn ACL, Bledsoe gives the Clippers a player who has scored 71 or more in three of the past four seasons. Have played games.
Beverly was a fan favorite in LA due to his defenses and bustle and was an emotional leader for the Clippers when they exceeded expectations and surprisingly made it postseason in 2018-19. Beverly, however, was only able to play 37 games last season due to injuries.
"It's always difficult to part with people we care about, respect and admire," Frank said. "Pat has been a pillar of our team for the past four years. He helped build our foundation with his assertive leadership and competitive spirit. Pat was instrumental in some of our most significant achievements."
Rondo was acquired on trade deadline last season for the likes of Lou Williams and two second-round picks from Atlanta. The Clippers were hoping Rondo would give them the lead and playoff playmaking at point guard, but the veteran played just 13 playoff games and was out of coach Ty Lew's postseason rotation during the Clippers' walk to the Western Conference Finals.