Patrick Beverley had a successful 12-year NBA career. However, Beverley's NBA days are likely behind him. The 6-foot-2 guard spent last season with Israel's Hapoel Tel Aviv team. Recently, it was reported that Beverley was interested in joining the Perth Wildcats of Australia's NBL league, but the team didn't “meaningfully engage” with him.
The NBL is one of the best leagues in the world. Notably, LaMelo Ball played in the NBL, and Alex Sarr played for the Perth Wildcats. Regardless, the Wildcats not being interested in Beverley all but guarantees the 37-year-old guard won't be back in the NBA as he searches for a new home.
Beverley spent the 2021-22 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he was a quality contributor on a playoff squad. Notably, Beverley started in 54 out of 58 games. However, in the 2022 offseason, he was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the famous Rudy Gobert trade. Beverley never played with the Jazz, though he eventually ended up with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his final two NBA seasons, he played for four teams: the Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beverley was included in the Gobert trade to help make the salaries work and give the Jazz some extra value. Nevertheless, the Wolves didn't have to include him, and they certainly gave up on him at the right time.
The Wolves traded Beverley at the perfect time
After being traded from Minnesota, Beverley declined. He averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists with the Wolves. In the two years after being traded from Minnesota, Beverley would never exceed these averages. This, paired with his age, defensive decline, and controversial personality, made Beverley losing his spot in the NBA anything but a surprise.
Still, it made the Wolves look wise for getting rid of him three years ago. Of course, the main goal of the trade was to land Gobert, who has helped the Wolves earn two consecutive Western Conference finals appearances, and Beverley was hardly the centerpiece of a trade that included five first-round picks. Nevertheless, the Wolves could have included another player for salary purposes, and it's possible Tim Connelly was sensing a decline.
Ultimately, it's clear that the Wolves got rid of Beverley at the ideal time. With the Perth Wildcats not being interested in Beverley, it's even clearer. Without a doubt, many teams around the league, including the Wolves, are relieved that they gave up on Beverley.