Patrick Beverley played with James Harden in Houston for five seasons from 2012-17 and is hoping to get the opportunity to reunite with his old backcourt mate in Philadelphia. Acknowledging that the decision on how to handle Harden’s trade request is “above my pay grade,” Beverley said during his introductory press conference on Monday that he’d love it if Harden is still with the Sixers when the season begins.
“One of my decisions coming here was because James Harden was here,” Beverley said, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “So I hope he stays. Hope that everybody can kind of work something out and put that behind us and kind of move forward. I think it’s important.
“… I love him. James, I love you, bro. Stay. … I’m very familiar with James. And I’m excited. I’m excited to get it going. He knows I’m here. So we’ll see.”
Beverley officially signed his one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Sixers over the weekend. Harden’s future – or lack thereof – in Philadelphia will be one of the factors that determines what Beverley’s role looks like in 2023/24.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Extension discussions between Jaylen Brown and the Celtics have progressed as expected so far, and the two sides appear to be moving closer to an agreement, potentially within the next week, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Weiss adds that the three teams involved in the Grant Williams sign-and-trade – Boston, Dallas, and San Antonio – are still finalizing the details on all the draft picks involved in that complex deal, which should become official soon.
- Although he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Nets in June, David Duke has been playing for their Summer League team and remains hopeful about returning to Brooklyn, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Duke, who finished the season on a standard contract with the Nets after being promoted from his two-way deal, admitted that he was a little surprised not to be given a QO. “You know, things don’t always happen as you really expect it. So yeah, I can say that I was expecting (a qualifying offer),” he said. “But my whole career I feel like there’s been things that have kind of been thrown at me that I didn’t expect, so it’s not really something that shook me or anything like that. … I think if I take care of the stuff on the court, everything will fall into place.”
- In a story for The Athletic, Fred Katz examines the impact Donte DiVincenzo could have on the Knicks‘ defense, outlines the unlikely incentives in DiVincenzo’s new contract, and weighs the value of the second-round picks the team got back in the Obi Toppin trade with Indiana.
If I’m the mavericks, I’d renegotiate that deal with San Antonio. I’m sure keeping Bullock, especially now that Thybull isn’t coming, would be a lot smarter than dumping him to SA for that 2030 pick swap. Just absorb Grant into the MLE: there are no other players available that are worth it anyways (unless you think you have a shot at PJ Washington, but if that’s the case, it would probably be a S&T for THJ or even a double S&T for Wood or something like that). I’d rather have Bullock and my own 2030 pick, than not.
Donte a solid pick up for the Knicks. I’m not sure I agree with the amount of the contract. I still would of traded Randle and Fournier and kept Obi1.
For the Sixers I wouldn’t be opposed to starting Pat Bev with James Harden in the backcourt and having Melton and Maxey off the bench together.
Pat and James have played a bunch together, Pats a really good defender and leader. Think he’d ultimately fit in well with Embiid and the rest of the guys. Tobias can go back to being the 3rd scoring option which suits him aswell.
Maxey played off the bench last year for a period coming back from injury and was good. He’s also played a bunch with Melton and I like that combination of defence and offence, playmaking and ball handling between those two aswell.
Defensively that starting unit would be top 5 with Bev Tucker and Embiid. Offensively Harden Embiid Tobias your not going to struggle especially with Maxey coming off the bench.
I’m unsure on how the rest of the second unit works. You’ve got Harrell and Reed, Korkmaz and House, then Mo Bamba aswell. They do have a need for more 3 and D forwards, that kinda 6’7 versatile guy