The Minnesota Timberwolves may have traded former point guard Patrick Beverley to the Utah Jazz, but that never felt as though the Jazz would be his final destination. Not only was the fit of the hard-nosed determined Beverley seemingly out of place on a Jazz roster that was clearly regrouping and aiming to compete in the future, but the rumors of Beverley showing up on the NBA Trade block began almost instantly from the moment that he arrived.
The LA Lakers have been linked to Patrick Beverley for weeks, if not months, and the latest reported rumor appears to reflect the fact that the Lakers finally got their guy:
The Jazz are trading Patrick Beverley to the Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 25, 2022
And with this trade, Beverley is now on his third different NBA team before the season begins. But in another report, the Jazz will be welcoming not one but two players.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced talks on a trade to acquire Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverley for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson, sources tell ESPN. Deal could be finalized as soon as Thursday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 25, 2022
And so, we’ll go with the more lucrative package for the Jazz for now.
Weeks ago, rumors involved a three-team exchange with the Lakers, the Jazz, and the NY Knicks.
The Timberwolves included Beverley in their trade for All-Star center Rudy Gobert to make the math work. This latest move by the Utah Jazz is simply their efforts to realign their roster to fit what they want to do this season. Talen Horton Tucker is a 6-foot-4 234-pound shooting guard who is entering his fourth NBA season. Tucker is a developing NBA talent and will give the Jazz a young backcourt/wing player to trial this season.
Beverley is a far more seasoned NBA veteran of 10 years. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 180-pounds, Beverley prides himself on putting some good defense on the NBA basketball court. Because he is a 10-season veteran, he makes far more sense playing for the LA Lakers, a team that is built to win now.
Stanley Johnson is a rotational forward whose upside appears to be a bit limited. While he may fit a niche role for the Utah Jazz, I would not be the least bit surprised if he is not on their roster by season’s end.
For Lakers fans, Beverley is the right player at the right time. In his previous debuts, he has an uncanny knack for elevating the team’s play to instantly compete in the postseason. Right now, that is exactly what the Lakers are looking for.
Can he prod, needle, and drive the Lakers to their optimal performance this season? The Lakers missed the NBA Playoffs last season, and are eager to jumpstart their way into the postseason competition once more. Is Beverley the answer? Well, based on how well he seemed to motivate the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, it’s certainly a possibility.