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Doc Rivers talks highly of the Patrick Beverley trade for Bucks: "He's a good spirit for our team"
Hours leading to Thursday's trade deadline, general manager Jon Horst's wonders worked out once again as the Milwaukee Bucks made a bold move by securing the services of Patrick Beverley.
Notably known for his tough-minded and feisty persona throughout the entire NBA, Pat Bev serves as the latest piece to get added to the Bucks. Coming from the Philadelphia 76ers, the veteran is expected to bring that relentless edge and vocal leadership to massively impact Milwaukee's desired defensive improvement and its ongoing championship hunt in general.
A competitive enforcer
No other person within the Bucks camp knows Beverley deeply other than head coach Doc Rivers.
Pat and Doc have an unbreakable connection and familiarity with each other as they shared three seasons of partnership from 2017 to 2020 with the Los Angeles Clippers.
For Doc, the Bucks will not only get a productive team player who provides vital differences but also a proven competitor with a lionheart determination
"He is a very, very high IQ player, especially defensively and even offensively, with his movement and setting picks. He's also an instigator, a big talker defensively. I'm not meaning about talking trash, meaning he talks on defense. I think those are some of the things we need," Rivers said in the post-game of the Bucks' Thursday showcase loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"At times, he has great defensive nights. At times, he overdoes it, and those are the nights where he and I know we have to talk."
A significant element to add
Set to play on his seventh new team throughout his 12-year run in the NBA, Pat is about to join a contending Bucks group that still urgently needs a critical defensive emphasis and an impactful voice to reach its utmost potential as a legitimate contender.
With what they are brewing within the team, Doc is convinced that the 35-year-old perfectly fits their desired grand plan.
"I've coached him before. He's a good spirit for the team and one of the most competitive players I've ever coached. And, people like that, it's contagious. I think that's good for our team," Doc added.
