AUGUST 16: The Grizzlies and Clippers have put out press releases officially announcing the trade.
AUGUST 15: The Grizzlies and Clippers have agree to a trade that will send veteran point guard Eric Bledsoe back to Los Angeles in exchange for Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, and Daniel Oturu, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Bledsoe, who began his NBA career with the Clippers back in 2010, was traded from New Orleans to Memphis earlier in the offseason as part of a salary-dump deal that also sent Steven Adams to the Grizzlies. A report at the time of the agreement indicated that Bledsoe was unlikely to remain in Memphis, though it was unclear if the plan was to trade him or buy him out.
This trade, a three-for-one swap, will help generate some roster flexibility for a Clippers team that had been carrying 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts. Los Angeles will now have 14 players on guaranteed deals, plus Yogi Ferrell on a non-guaranteed salary.
Swapping out Beverley ($14.32MM), Rondo ($8.25MM), and Oturu ($1.52MM) for Bledsoe ($18.13MM) will also save the Clippers some money on a tax bill that was projected to be worth $125MM. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter), that projection will dip to about $95MM.
The three outgoing players are all on expiring contracts, while Bledsoe is on a pseudo-expiring deal — his $19.38MM salary for 2022/23 is only partially guaranteed for $3.9MM. Because only Beverley and Oturu are required for salary-matching purposes, L.A. will generate a trade exception worth Rondo’s $8.25MM salary, Marks notes.
Although the Clippers will sacrifice a little depth in the trade, Bledsoe is a bounce-back candidate who could conceivably provide the club with some of the play-making and defense lost by moving Beverley and Rondo. Bledsoe had a down year with the Pelicans in 2020/21, but he averaged 5.5 assists per game during his time in Milwaukee from 2018-20 and earned All-Defensive nods in both seasons.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, save a little 2022/23 money in the deal while taking on some extra salary for ’21/22. Memphis is now facing a roster crunch of its own, with 17 players on fully guaranteed contracts.
According to Wojnarowsi (Twitter link), the Grizzlies will be “open-minded” in weighing additional roster moves involving Beverley, Rondo, and/or Oturu and will likely consider flipping one or more of them in separate deals.
Memphis is already relatively deep at the point guard spot, with Tyus Jones backing up Ja Morant and De’Anthony Melton also capable of playing the position. As such, it’s hard to imagine both Beverley and Rondo starting the season with the club.
Because they’re on smaller expiring deals, Beverley and Rondo should be easier for the Grizzlies to move in subsequent trades than Bledsoe was. The move to turn one bigger contract into multiple smaller ones is somewhat reminiscent of a trade the team completed during the 2019 offseason, sending out Chandler Parsons‘ oversized expiring deal for Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee, who were each earning about half of what Parsons was.
Don’t like this deal for clippers.
Rondo + Beverly = Bledsoe
I like this trade a lot.
Clips get best player in the deal. Memphis gets the depth it needs
MEM does not need PG depth. See article
Clips also have two rookie draftee PGs.
Tbh one will likely be dealt before the season (Rondo)
But if im Memphis trying to contend for a title id much rather have a bench back court of Rondo & Bev than Tyus Jones & Melton
Clearly
Clippers get worse a little
But
It’s tax saving
Clippers are going nowhere anyway this year
Bledsoe and russ westbrick are the same caliber of player now and have the same style ! They are equals
LOL cut it out
it gives more minutes to Terrance Mann and Winslow.
Basketball wise it’s not great but cap wise it makes sense
Not sure I love it for Memphis either tho. Rondo is probably done. Beverly might be a good backup for Ja? But this team already has a lot of depth.
Having said that they only gave up Bledsoe, who had no value anyway, so can’t complain too much from Memphis’s side.
This trade is so bad for the Clippers.
Most people think that Beverley is overrated, he’s a great 3 and D guy.
I don’t like the guy’s attitude. He could be a cancer in a young locker room if Memphis gets off to a slow start.
Pat Bev is a guy any locker room would love to have. He’s a good dude that just is a dog on the court.
I’m betting Phoenix’s locker room would love to have him in there…for a little while with no witnesses anyway.
I’ve seen pigs fly… calling Beverley a cancer.
He’s the quintessential team player.
Exactly, he’s the guy every fan of every other team hates, but you better believe I’d love him to join my team.
Agreed
lol beverly was garbage but now that LA ships him hes now great. u cant make this up. dude is always injured and fouls alot
Bledsoe is washed Beverly is washed these are two teams that rightfully aren’t even gonna win a title just re stacking each other’s decks
Lol LA fans – We got Beverly and Rondo, so much toughness and depth. We’re winning it all! …Then definitely did not win it all and now those same guys are hot garbage. No need to make anything up, that’s LA fans. See also Schroder, Dennis for the other LA fans.
I see Pat Bev‘s smoke and mirrors are in great working order, especially amongst the eyes of the commenters on this thread.
And good for him… he’s made a living with it – and that fake toughness!
Is this comment satire?
Your projecting your personal weakness onto Beverley LMAO… what a cupcake!
Beverly and Rondo are always hurt. It’s basically Oturu for Bledsoe, it’s a solid trade.
Clippers decrease their luxury tax bill by $30 million in this deal.
They also address their roster crunch by getting to 15 players and will also create a $8.3M TPE.
Why
Read the article. It lists several good reasons for the Clippers doing this trade.
Hahahaha, reading comprehension is frowned upon in America in 2021
Good reasons….hmm
Gritt n grind will be in full effect next season
Not because of Beverly; uneeded.
Noooooo! Pat Bev……. Love that dudes energy…..
Memphis keeps stinking it up, lateral move, useless move.
They’re most likely going to move one or more players on, the article says. Can’t really call it useless until we know.
I mean its a lateral move but its not like they were going to move Bledsoe for a significant upgrade (without giving something of value at least). Imo Beverley and Rondo are easier to move than Bledsoe considering both are on expiring deals. I doubt many teams would’ve wanted Bledsoe as anything more than a way to swap bad contracts given he has a partial guarantee next year. Atleast with Beverley and Rondo, Memphis can try to move one, or both, of them in another deal. And if no suitable offer comes around and they choose to keep both, then they just let both walk next offseason and don’t have to worry about any future money owed.
Rondo probably has slightly more value than Beverley (primarily because of his smaller cap hit) but I could see a scenario where Memphis keeps him around as a mentor for Morant.
My issue for Memphis is that they wasted multiple roster spots on guys that don’t add value to this team, vets like Rondo that can cause harm to the locker room, if there isn’t a good move to be made then don’t make a move.
Who needs facts indeed. People lay things out and some still just sit wondering. Rondo and Bev are expiring and Bledsoe not, how about that. I doubt if more than one of the PGs is even invited to the lockerroom.
Oturo was decent in short minutes, a promising secondrounder last year.
Where is the upside for Memphis? At least pick up a 2nd round pick for helping out the Clippers so much. I guess Oturu is a decent prospect, but it looks like they added a bunch of extra salary and three roster spots without really upgrading much. This is the type of deal a rebuilding club should make, not a team on the upswing for the playoffs.
Beverly is a great backup for Ja Morant.
Tough nosed defensive PG. Fits well with Memphis’ mantra of Team D.
Rondo will be moved or waived.
It actually saves them money and lengthens their bench, with Otoru as the throw in to get the deal done.
They were considering a Bledsoe buyout, so this makes more sense.
They added basically no money (maybe 2 mil) thanks to Bledsoe’s partial guarantee and have more cap space for next offseason. And what else were they going to get for Bledsoe? It’s not sexy but every little move helps
Agree Shea, they are using up the {almost} unusable open cap space this year to generate the 3.9 extra for next
I don’t see why the Clips are getting ripped tho, I like what they did…this seems 95% an accounting move for Memphis so can’t get on them too bad – I doubt Rondo plays a minute for them this year
Cmon hiflew. They lost nothing, gained something.
Beverley better bounce way back if this is going to make sense for the Clips. Give up those expiring contracts for this?
Beverly plays for Memphis now. I don’t think the Clippers care how he plays.
He clearly meant Bledsoe who looks almost as bad as Russell Westbrook lately as a player who isn’t good
Of course he did, since it mentions Bledsoe in the article as a bounce-back candidate. He will get plenty of opportunity to prove himself with the Clippers since someone needs to replace all the scoring they will lose without Kawhi. The Bucks were better last season after they sent him to New Orleans, and obviously the Grizzlies didn’t want him either. The Clippers can cut him next summer and pay the $3.9 buyout to get rid of him.
I mean if we’re just looking at the numbers, 22/11/11 (Westbrook) is definitely better than 12/3/3 (Bledsoe). Bledsoe is the better defender and slightly better shooter, which really isn’t saying much, but Westbrook is more likely to actually make an impact. Doubt Bledsoe does much better than his statline from last season (especially since he’ll be the backup) and while Westbrook’s numbers probably will fall, I don’t think that something like 20/7/7 is out of the question for Westbrook.
Bledsoe ‘looks almost as bad as Russell Westbrook’? He’s way, way worse than Westbrook. He maintained his 3PT% last year but took huuuuge dropoffs in 2PT% and FT% coupled with far fewer assists and rebounds and diminished defense. Dude was 11.5 PER, .053 WS/48, and a negative VORP (-0.2).
If it wasn’t for his decent 3PT%, he’d be a candidate for worst guard in the league (who plays significant minutes). Westbrook crushes him by a mile in almost every category.
Noel- Or tjeck didn’t and is confused, confusing readers, like thinking Westbrook looked like Bledsoe.
This is EXACTLY what GSW should be doing with Wiggins, why do the Clippers always do moves the Warriors should be doing?
Sorry Marty, but nobody wants to give up anything of value for Wiggins.
Maybe next year when he is on an expiring contract they’ll be able to get rid of him.
If Beverley has value, then Wiggins has value.
Beverly is on an expiring deal, no one wants to get Wiggins let alone have him for a couple more years to boot. Wiggins contract is one of the worst deals in the nba
Beverley’s deal doesn’t expire until 2023, not exactly expiring. I don’t see what value he provides at $20 million a year. He is not good enough to start, and to expensive to be a backup.
He has little to no guaranteed money due in 2022 2023 ! I’m actually pretty sure he signed a three year deal In 2019 with a team option for the fourth
@Howie925 Are you talking about Bledsoe or Beverley? Beverley is making $14.3MM this year and is an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
I mixed up the two. But, the idea that Wiggins is a completely worthless player, as everyone is saying, is ridiculous.
Beverley is definitely on an expiring deal.
Who knows what Howie is talking about. Bev wasn’t the player here who was gotten rid of, it’s Bledsoe that I was comparing to Wiggins.
I don’t get this idea clippers have to win a title it’s destiny or deserved that they win a title ! Lol no it isn’t if they don’t win a title it won’t be even one of the top 20 teams in terms or talent or quality never win a title ! It won’t be bad or a shame if they continue to fall short ! They aren’t good enough
We always ask that question of you.
@Marty Do you really believe Beverly is better than Wiggins? Do you really want to model the Warriors after the Clippers? In 50 years of existence, they haven’t won anything. What do you hate about the Warriors?
Clippers desperately trying to keep up with the Lakers.
Lakers have Bron AD Russ then told players, Clippers have Kawhi PG Bledsoe and Ibaka.
Memphis doesn’t need 4 point guards.
They should flip Rondo for Kris Dunn and Romeo Langford. Then flip Beverly to the Blazers for Derrick Jones Jr.
Memphis then end up with Bledsloe for Jones Jr, Dunn, Langford and Oturu.
Celtics open up a roster spot and bring back a solid back up veteran point guard.
Blazers add a solid back up guard that will help their second unit and their defence a bunch. Plus would serve as a back up incase you do end up trading Lillard for an amazing offer….
Like Ben Simmons and 4 first round picks
you forgot Mann who could be a great player and Lets see if Winslow can stay healthy and bounce back like Batum did last year
I didn’t bother to count bench players. Clippers have Mann Jackson Kennard Johnson Winslow Batum and Zubac etc, Lakers have Nunn Bazemore THT Monk Ellington Ariza Melo Gasol Howard etc etc
Pretty even really…
Bledsoe didn’t want to be in NO. He doesn’t want to be in Memphis. He still should be able to give good mins to a contender. That’s what they are hoping (be motivated). With Jackson they should be fine. Oturu is the prize for Grizz. He’s a big old school 4. He can be a solid big for them. Still young with upside. I agree they don’t need both Beverly and Rondo. Rondo is probably good for a young team. No one is taking Beverly, I doubt. They probably try and buy him out. I think it works for both teams. Clippers are betting on Bledsoe, he’s only 31. Back on a contender.
Bad trade.
I think Clips have being trying to weed out the old crew for over 2 years now.
Beverly seals the deal and this was an easily digestible trade to bring the whole plan to fruition
Trez-Lou- Bev culture just didn’t cut the mustard
It’s the Kawahi Leonard show now, for better or worse.
Jokes need not apply, they write themselves for this franchise
MEM did well. Mostly, just getting rid of the toxic waste (Bledsoe). They got significant draft capital from NOP for taking him. Now, they take on some additional $$ this year to clear him from the books at the end of the year. Also, get a potential impact piece off the bench in Beverly; I consider Rondo a roll of the dice at this point (looked half dead with LAC last year).
Beverly can’t do anything Melton can’t. I doubt either old guys stick, but MEM will like the capspace next year.
I guess Melton is a guy MEM hopes will someday be like PB, although I don’t see it. Physically, yes, but the BB IQ is a question mark. If MEM wants to make a real run in the playoffs this year, they need a significant upgrade in the answers their bench can give them on the perimeter. Veterans who have done it are usually the safest way to get there. If they cut PB and RR, then they’ll need to find answers elsewhere. I don’t think they’re on the roster.
First i dont understand why Memphis trade away Valanciunas
They have to resign JJJ first and JV who is a old vet comparé to the core of thé Grizz
I don’t get this deal from Memphis’ point of view. Seems like a big help for the Clippers, but what’s the rationale for Memphis executing this trade?
The CLIPPERS isn’t going anywhere this season, might as well clear up their roster some and ease the tax burden – Pat Beverley is all heart, but that CP3 shove was downright embarrassing.
lol clippers are still a good team with kawhi out
Bledsoe/PG/Batum/Morris/Ibaka is still pretty good
Jackson/Mann/Kennard/Winslow/Zubac on bench
That team will earn some respect and embarrass teams who don’t prepare for them ! Still don’t see where that leads them to the promise lame though ! If they really could have won the bubble title and decided not to then that’s just stupid ! The bubble title is different but in history it’s gonna count the same as any other title ! Take it it was their time now it’s the nets time with a actual super team
eh, that team is a low playoff seed at best in the tough west. If anything happens to PG, they’re in serious danger of missing the playoffs.
Memphis has some roster spots to empty now. They either have to eat salary or do some trades that send out more players than come in…so maybe planning a multi-team trade deal that would dump some of the extra players?
Excellent write up Luke. I love how you explain both sides of this trade and the benefits for doing it. A lot of the questions people have in this comments section are answered by you in the article. Fantastic job and great analysis !!
this is the best deal i’ve ever seen. plus one to both teams.
Bledsoe might put his career back on track, like Reggie Jackson did. He knows how to play. Good trade for LAC, and they saved a lot of money on top of it.
I feel like the clippers could have made this exact same deal with Toronto for Dragic, with a draft pick or two attached.
I mean why do 5hatcwhen they already owe out assets. Helps on luxury tax and gets some young guys some playing time. If they do well maybe kwahi comes back though thats prolly in the unlikely category.
If the Grizzlies goal this offseason was to get worse, they’ve accomplished that goal. The move sending JV to nola to move up was worthless when they chose to draft ziaire over bouknight or moody (I’ll gladly eat my words if ziaire ends up being an all star and the other two I mentioned do not). Either way Ziaire would’ve been there at 17, and if he wasn’t a similar guy like trey murphy (who I also like more than ziaire) would’ve been there.
Taking that move up in the 1st out of the equation (since it was a bad draft choice and a definite reach) they traded JV & $20+ million of cap space for Adams, rondo, patbev, oturu, and LAL ’21 1st. They did move up in the 2nd, but as they could’ve still drafted Aldama (by trading #51 and future 2nd/s pretty much line they did anyways) since Aldama was projected as a late draft choice and possibly going undrafted.
Adams is undeniably worse than JV and more expensive than him as well (if they wanted to get a defensive minded center that has no offense and move on from JV they could’ve gotten one in FA or the draft for 25% of Adams salary or less and traded JV for better assets). Patbev and rondo are unnecessary and old depth pieces (Memphis already has tyus and Melton as backup PGs, so the old guys will probably not play at all). Oturu would be decent if Memphis didn’t draft another PF in Aldama to go along with everyone else on their roster that are 4/5s. If oturu is a 4, then Memphis already has JJJ, Clarke, tillie, & Aldama so oturu is at best the 3rd option. Similarly if oturu is playing the 5 they already have Adams (JV if they would’ve kept him like they should have) & Tillman. So he is also unnecessary depth, like the two old PGs, since there isn’t much if any added value as a 3rd stringer.
So most likely Memphis could’ve kept JV and still gotten the Lakers 1st from NOLA just for taking on either Adams/EB as a salary dump. Also since both draft selections were reaches, they could’ve ended up with the same guys by giving up some future 2nds (which they ended up doing to get Aldama anyways) even though I personally would’ve preferred them going with different draft choices for the 10/17. That’s the reason they should’ve waited until draft night to do a trade as I mentioned in another post. You get to see what happens during the draft and move up if necessary. They could’ve kept one of their core pieces and still gotten draft assets just for a salary dump.
As for this trade on its own, it sounded like EB was not willing to play for Memphis. So even though they gave up the best player in the trade, they brought on contracts that could be moved a bit easier if they can find a suitor. That being the case, I’d say LAC “won” the trade. They got the best player, cut down their roster like they needed to, AND cut their tax bill down a hefty amount.
I think you can still sign up for a free blog if you need some place to fully express your thoughts.
Coming from the guy that thought they’d get a 2nd rounder for EB
Beverly had to go. It’s all about the image and the new culture. Completely turn the page from the past…
The clippers seem to change identity quite often
Remember when Pat Beverly stepped to Steph Curry and told him “Your time is over, you had the last 5 years, we got the next 5 years” and Steph said “Aren’t you 31?”
and then Pat Bev didn’t even last 5 years on the Clippers, l m a o