Chicago Bulls hope Patrick Beverley could spark team in stretch run

The Chicago Bulls add a much-needed point guard for the stretch run. 

Barring an unforeseen change, the Chicago Bulls are going to sign free-agent point guard Patrick Beverley for the remainder of the season. After the Los Angeles Lakers traded Beverley to the Orlando Magic at the NBA Trade Deadline, Beverley was waived shortly after and became a free agent.

Amid reports that Lonzo Ball is going to miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury that he suffered more than a year ago, the Bulls went out and made it a priority to find a veteran point guard for the stretch run. Beverley became their target.

Can the Chicago Bulls make a run in the final stretch of the season?

Beverley will try to help Chicago reach the postseason after an injury-riddled season has stalled hopes for the team.

After making the playoffs with a 46-36 record last season, the Bulls have regressed in 2022-23. They’ll come out of the All-Star break 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-33 record.

Beverley had the choice of joining the Golden State Warriors as they try to navigate their own injury and regression issues to defend their title. In the end, he chose to play for his hometown team and sounded excited about the chance to represent the six-time champions.

"“I get to take my son to school. I get to take my son and my baby girl to school,” he said from vacation in Paris. “I get to pick ’em up. I get to rep my city on my chest, proudly. If you think I went hard for other teams, just imagine how I’m gonna go hard for this one.”"

However, they remain in play for a play-in berth. The Bulls are two games behind the 10th-place Toronto Raptors and 6.5 games behind the New York Knicks, who would earn the East’s last guaranteed playoff spot as the No. 6 seed if the playoffs started today.

Beverley started all 45 games he played for the Lakers, averaging 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the floor. The bulk of his value stems from his defensive prowess and his tendency to agitate opposing players. His role will presumably remain the same in Chicago.

Patrick Beverley joins a crowded Bulls backcourt that features Ayo Dosunmu, Zach Lavine, Alex Caruso, Coby White, and Goran Dragic.