The LA Clippers have officially traded away Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Memphis Grizzlies for point guard Eric Bledsoe. The trade will mark Bledsoe’s return to the Clippers, as he played his first three seasons in the league with the team from 2010-2012.
Bledsoe has had himself a busy offseason. Earlier this summer, Bledsoe was traded by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Grizzlies alongside Steven Adams and multiple draft picks.
On the surface, the decision to trade two guards for Bledsoe may understandably be perceived as questionable, considering that Bledsoe posted the worst box plus/minus (BPM) of his career last season. After a closer examination, the deal works for both parties.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, “The deal saves the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax and creates an $8.3 million traded-player exception that they will have a year to use.”
In addition to the luxury tax savings, the trade clears up the congestion for playing time at the point guard position, with Reggie Jackson having already asserted himself as the starter after an excellent postseason run. Moreover, Bledsoe will have the freedom to operate in an offense that is more spaced out than in New Orleans, which was plagued by a lack of three-point shooting.
Losing Beverley will be interesting from an identity standpoint, as he was the heart and soul of the team defensively. However, he’ll have the opportunity to replicate his past success with the Grizzlies, an organization that has traditionally embraced a scrappy style of play and given opportunities for players, like Tony Allen, to shine on the defensive end.
