The Minnesota Timberwolves were a completely different team after acquiring veteran combo guard Patrick Beverley. Before he arrived, the Timberwolves finished the 2020-21 NBA season with a rather disappointing 23-49 season. After he arrived the following season, the Timberwolves surprised everyone with a 46-36 record and a return to the NBA Playoffs, ending a three-year post-season drought.
Now, I am not trying to argue that Beverley was the main reason for the Timberwolves’ sudden resurgence into NBA relevancy. But I will say that his trash-talking in-their-heads attitude on the basketball court was one of the more obvious contributing factors to their playoff seeding. Some have argued that it was the contributing factor. However else you see the matter, none can argue against Beverley’s own statement about the impact of his lone season with the Timberwolves:
“We kind of revamped the environment there. Gave the fans something to be happy about.”
But if the Timberwolves could enjoy such a dramatic effect, why couldn’t another NBA team? After all, the reason Beverley was traded to the Utah Jazz was simply to balance out the salaries exchanged between two teams. The Jazz wanted draft picks, young players, or simply assets to acquire even more picks or young players from other NBA teams.
And NBA rumors suggest that they are getting closer to that happening. There are plenty of NBA teams that would love to get ‘tougher’ on the court. Beverly has proven to be that type of difference maker on an NBA roster, and now teams are inquiring with the Utah Jazz to determine what it may require to add that type of enhancement to their own roster.
Sources: The Lakers, Knicks and Jazz discussed a three-team trade with Donovan Mitchell landing in New York, Patrick Beverley and another key Jazz player to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook on the move, and draft picks to Utah. More details on @hoopshype. https://t.co/AejGhQPKVK
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 5, 2022
And so, the former Minnesota Timberwolves guard may be switching teams once more, before ever playing a single game for the Utah Jazz. Which team will he return to? Well, we know that it will not be the Timberwolves. How so? Well, the NBA regulations prohibit a team from reacquiring a player traded away unless that player is released and goes unclaimed. Then, and only then, will the Timberwolves be in the discussion once more.
Until that time, veteran guard Patrick Beverley will be trash-talking and swagging for another NBA team. Which one? That small detail appears to be still up in the air.