Report: Rockets, Patrick Beverley agree to 4-year, $25-million deal
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Point guard Patrick Beverley has agreed to a four-year, $25-million deal to remain with the Houston Rockets, reports Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 26-year-old missed the final 12 games of the regular season, including the Rockets' postseason run to the Western Conference Finals, after tearing ligaments in his left wrist against the Indiana Pacers on March 23.
"I'm just so glad to be back," Beverley told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "This is biggest contract of my life."
His defensive prowess would have come in handy against the Golden State Warriors, as MVP Steph Curry torched the Rockets to the tune of 31.2 points on 51.5 percent shooting.
"I think I have a gift very few people have," said Beverley back in May. "I know I’m the best on-ball defender in the NBA. I’m the best point guard defender in the NBA. I think the whole league knows that."
Beverley isn't a prototypical point guard, often leaving the running of the offense in the hands of one of his teammates. His defense is his bread and butter, and goes a long way toward offsetting his poor shooting and mediocre offensive intangibles.
Re-signing Beverley was of utmost importance, as the Rockets have little real depth behind him. With Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni, the decline on defense is significant.
In 56 games last season, Beverley averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals on 38.3 percent shooting. A recent survey by the NBA's 30 general managers had him ranked as the 26th-best point guard in the league.
The New York Knicks had "major interest" in Beverley, although the ball was always in Houston's court with him being a restricted free agent.