LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 30: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to the crowd after a Phoenix Suns foul during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
The Los Angeles Clippers will welcome back Eric Bledsoe, reacquiring the veteran guard in a trade that will send veteran guards Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo to the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as center Daniel Oturu, ESPN reported Sunday.
Bledsoe, 31, originally was drafted in the first round (18th overall) out of Kentucky in 2010 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who immediately traded him to Los Angeles. He played three seasons with the Clippers and will return with 11 seasons of NBA experience with four teams.
Bledsoe played with the New Orleans Pelicans last season and was moved to the Grizzles on Aug. 7 in the three-team trade that also included the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has averaged 14 points, 4.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds over 702 career games.
Beverley, 33, will see his four-season run in Los Angeles come to an end. The standout defender averaged eight points and 4.3 rebounds in 177 games with the Clippers and has scored 8.8 points with 4.3 rebounds in nine seasons with the Houston Rockets and Clippers.
Rondo, 35, played just 18 games with the Clippers after he was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks last season. The 15-year veteran, who has been an All-Star four times, has averaged 10 points, 8.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds over 918 career games.
Oturu, 21, who has been effective with the Clippers’ Summer League team, scored 1.8 points with 1.6 rebounds over 30 games off the bench last season. He was a second-round draft pick out of Minnesota by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Clippers.