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The Los Angeles Clippers just revamped their backcourt and added a familiar face to the process.
The team are trading Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu at the Memphis Grizzlies for point guard Eric Bledsoe according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Gohe John Hollinger of Athletic, the exchange will save the Clippers about $ 25 million in luxury tax payments, while the Grizzlies will save $ 3.9 million in cap next season.
Eric Bledsoe returns to Los Angeles
The move also reunites Bledsoe with the team where he started his career following the 2010 NBA Draft. Bledsoe saw limited playing time in his first stint with the Clippers due to the presence of Chris Paul and n ‘saw that increase in minutes after a trade with the Phoenix Suns.
Since then, Bledsoe has played as a competent playmaker, but has seen his value plummet after a four-year, $ 70 million overtime with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks eventually landed him as part of Jrue Holiday’s trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, who sent him to Memphis earlier this offseason.
Bledsoe averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game with New Orleans while shooting 42.1% (34.1% from depth). He’s also just one season away from a second-team All Defense selection.
With the Clippers, Bledsoe plans to split his time in the backcourt with Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann, two players who increased their playoff value enough to put the team at ease by swapping two veteran guards.
The Clippers trade the oldest player
It’s the end of an era for the Clippers and Beverley, who was the longest-serving player on the squad (the title now belongs to … Ivica Zubac, who joined the squad in February 2019).
Over Beverley’s four seasons in Los Angeles, the team moved from their post-Chris Paul era to their current status as a contender with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Beverley was never known for his offensive production, but his defense, leadership and 39.5% 3-point shootout with the Clippers made him an important player.
Rondo is leaving the Clippers after half a season with the team, which traded him for the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Lou Williams. While he had his moments in Los Angeles, he was not a factor in the playoffs and could be a candidate for the Memphis buyout.
Oturu was the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and saw few minutes of waste-free time as a rookie.
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