Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Lakers 125-121. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
Free agent guard Patrick Beverley, a Chicago native, will sign with his hometown Bulls, ESPN and The Athletic reported Monday.
The Bulls will need to waive a player to create a roster spot for Beverley, which could happen as early as Tuesday, per the reports.
Beverley has a reputation as one of the NBA’s toughest defenders, earning NBA All-Defensive Team honors three times (first team in 2017, second team in 2014 and 2020).
The 34-year-old joined the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the season, but on Feb. 9 he was shipped in a four-team trade to the Orlando Magic, who then agreed to a contract buyout.
In 45 games (all starts) for the Lakers, Beverley averaged 6.4 points per game, his lowest average since his first NBA season in 2012-13. He added 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
Beverley has career averages of 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game across 571 games (483 starts) for the Houston Rockets (2012-13 to 2016-17), Los Angeles Clippers (2017-18 to 2020-21), Minnesota Timberwolves (2021-22) and Lakers.
The Bulls are a lackluster 26-33, 11th place in the Eastern Conference and fighting to make the play-in tournament. They decided not to sell at the NBA trade deadline this month, keeping star players Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.