Eric Beldsoe is making his return to the LA Clippers.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers have traded Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Bledsoe.
Bledsoe spent the first three seasons of his career with the Clippers after they drafted him with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies, with an already packed roster, are open-minded on the futures of all three players in Memphis -- and will likely consider trades with some of those arriving in this deal. Memphis gets salary cap flexibility in the summer of 2022 with trade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 16, 2021
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the trade will save the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax, while also creating an $8.3 million trade exception.
Cap ramifications for LAC/MEM:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 16, 2021
LAC
🏀Eric Bledsoe: $18.1M and $19.4M ($3.9M GTY)
💰LAC will see their tax bill drop from $125M to $95M (savings of $30M)
💰$8.3M TE for LAC
MEM
🏀Patrick Beverley: $14.3M
🏀Rajon Rondo: $7.5M ($750K likely bonus)
🏀Daniel Oturu: $1.5M
Bledsoe was traded to the Grizzlies from the New Orleans Pelicans in the off-season along with Steven Adams in the deal that saw Jonas Valanciunas head the other way.
The 31-year-old is coming off a tough season in New Orleans, averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game on 42.1 from the field and 34.1 percent from the 3-point line. The Clippers will be hoping he can provide additional ball-handling and scoring in the absence of Kawhi Leonard as he works his way back from a torn ACL.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies add two veteran ponit guards in Rondo and Beverley, who will be able to mentor Ja Morant and add some experience to the locker room. Oturu was the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, averaging 1.8 points in 30 games last season.
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