The Lakers are shaking things up at point guard. While the Russell Westbrook–Kyrie Irving rumors are seemingly on hold, Los Angeles decided to beef up its backcourt, acquiring veteran guard Patrick Beverley from the Jazz in exchange for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. Beverley is on his third team this offseason after previously being traded to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal. THT signed a three-year deal last summer that includes a player option for next season. Johnson, 26, is a lottery pick who initially joined the Lakers on a 10-day contract last December. Let’s grade the move for both sides.
Lakers: C-
Beverley is a solid player who slots in nicely alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. His defensive tenacity will be welcome on a team that lacked it last season, and he shoots well enough on open threes to play off superstars. While Beverley’s reputation at times can exceed his effectiveness, his value increases as the caliber of headliners he plays with does. With LeBron on most of the ballhandling duties, Beverley can slide into his ideal role: chasing around backcourt stars defensively while only being responsible for spacing the floor on the other end. After the debacle that was the Lakers’ defense in 2022, this acquisition immediately improves the team.
