The widely reported re-signing of free agent point guard Patrick Beverley by the Los Angeles Clippers finally was confirmed, as the team announced the deal today.  Other outlets have reported that the three-year contract will be worth $40 million.

With Beverley and newly-acquired free agent stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George manning the perimeter, the Clippers figure to have three outstanding on-ball defenders to throw at teams on a nightly basis.

Beverley's fiery defense helped the Clippers make things difficult for the Golden State Warriors when the two teams met in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs last year.  He finished the 2018-19 season second among guards in defensive field-goal percentage (43.4%, 10-plus contests per game). Beverley was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2017 and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2014.

Beverley, 30, appeared in 78 games for last season and averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 27.4 minutes. The 6’1” guard helped lead the Clippers to a 48-34 record and the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, where he averaged 9.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.5 minutes.

Initially selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 42nd pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Arkansas, Beverley spent three-plus seasons playing internationally in Greece and Russia, before joining Houston in December 2012, and was acquired by the Clippers in 2017.