Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson are headed to Utah in the deal.

For now, the Lakers have $34MM in cap room for the summer of 2023, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks ( [Twitter link](https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1562684327837958145)), which will be a factor the team considers as its weighs additional trades. [Retweet](http://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoopsrumors.com%2F2022%2F08%2Fjazz-to-trade-patrick-beverley-to-lakers.html&text=Jazz+To+Trade+Patrick+Beverley+To+Lakers)5 [Share](#)0 [Send via email](#)0 However, once Kevin Durant withdrew his trade request and it became clear that Irving would likely remain in Brooklyn, Los Angeles pivoted to acquiring another point guard without having to include [Russell Westbrook](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) and draft compensation in the deal. The former second-round pick had an up-and-down 2021/22 season for the Lakers, averaging 10.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.7 APG in 60 games (25.2 MPG), but struggling to score efficiently, with a modest shooting line of .416/.269/.800. Horton-Tucker is still only 21 years old, so the Jazz presumably view the athletic wing as a player with some untapped potential. [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) remains a trade candidate, and the Jazz would likely be open to discussing deals involving veterans like [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), [Jordan Clarkson](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), [Malik Beasley](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/beaslma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), [Mike Conley](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlemi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), and [Rudy Gay](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gayru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) as well. Sources tell Wojnarowski that the deal is on track to be completed on Thursday. Beverley, 34, is a talented perimeter defender who can be a positive contributor on offense as well. and Utah. He’s also a career 37.8% three-point shooter across 10 NBA seasons. [Buddy Hield](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hieldbu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) and [Myles Turner](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/turnemy01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) is even more intriguing now that the club has fortified its backcourt by agreeing to acquire Beverley. [Patrick Beverley](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/beverpa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) to Los Angeles in exchange for [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hortota01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) and [Stanley Johnson](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsst04.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), reports [Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34455979/los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-deal-acquire-patrick-beverley-utah-jazz-sources-say).

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced talks on a trade to acquire the Utah Jazz veteran guard Patrick Beverley for ...

No picks were involved in the deal. The Lakers and Jazz are expected to finalize the deal on Thursday morning, delivering Patrick Beverley to LA after a brief stayover with the Jazz. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced talks on a trade to acquire the Utah Jazz veteran guard Patrick Beverley for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson.

Pat Bev will be teaming up with LeBron James and (maybe) his old-time rival Russell Westbrook in Los Angeles to try and bring the Lakers back to the playoffs ...

As one can expect, NBA Twitter exploded following the reports, focusing on the Beverley and Westbrook dynamic in L.A. [Adrian Wojnarowski](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34455979/los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-deal-acquire-patrick-beverley-utah-jazz-sources-say), the Los Angeles Lakers have [traded](https://hoopshype.com/2022/08/24/lakers-acquiring-patrick-beverley-from-jazz/) Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Patrick Beverley. Pat Bev will be teaming up with LeBron James and (maybe) his old-time rival Russell Westbrook in Los Angeles to try and bring the Lakers back to the playoffs this upcoming season.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly finalizing a blockbuster trade involving Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverley.

[in exchange for former three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year ](https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-07-01-jazz-make-blockbuster-trade-involving-all-star-rudy-gobert/) [Rudy Gobert](https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-07-01-jazz-make-blockbuster-trade-involving-all-star-rudy-gobert/). [Crytpo.com Arena](https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-12-06-photo-iconic-staples-center-sign-taken-down-amid-name-change/) co-tenants, from 2017-21 -- to Los Angeles in exchange for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson, sources confirmed. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-08-17-lebron-james-agrees-to-massive-new-deal-with-lakers-report/) are reportedly finalizing a blockbuster trade involving [Utah Jazz](https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-07-14-jazz-have-started-discussions-on-donovan-mitchell-trade-report/) guard Patrick Beverley, sources with knowledge of the move told [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34455979/los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-deal-acquire-patrick-beverley-utah-jazz-sources-say)'s Adrian Wojnarowski late Wednesday (August 24) night.

The Los Angeles Lakers are finalising a trade to acquire Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz, accord...

"We have agreed to move forward with our partnership. Tsai threw his support behind Marks and Nash, tweeting: "Our front office and coaching staff have my support. Kevin Durant is set to stay with the Brooklyn Nets after franchise and the 12-time NBA All-Star "agreed to move forward with our partnership".

The Lakers need players who can knock down their shots, and Beverley is solid from three-point range: across his entire regular-season NBA career he is 37.8% ...

Beverley is known for his intensity and defense, two areas the Lakers struggled with last season as they missed the playoffs. The hard-working 26-year-old was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise disappointing 2021-22 season for the Lakers. Now he will have a chance to prove himself in Utah. The Lakers need players who can knock down their shots, and Beverley is solid from three-point range: across his entire regular-season [according to ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34455979/los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-deal-acquire-patrick-beverley-utah-jazz-sources-say). Beverley has never been shy about his desire to play alongside LeBron James in LA.

The Los Angeles Lakers haven't been the most active team this offseason as many anticipated them to be. After a season where they could not even make it to.

With LeBron James showing that he can still average around 30 points per game and Davis also contributing to about 25 points per game when healthy, the Purple and Gold already have a decent offense for the upcoming season. Often guarding the best guards in the game, Beverley defends with tenacity and physicality and is pretty persistent as well. Given how he couldn't have much impact on both ends of the floor, the

The Utah Jazz are trading Patrick Beverley to the Los Angeles Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker, sources told The Athletic on Wednesday. Utah acquired Beverley ...

So, in this instance, one move has nothing to do with the other. Utah acquired Beverley from the [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/timberwolves/) in the [Rudy Gobert](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/rudy-gobert-HoB7w4Z5ROZnzHO4/) trade this offseason. As of now, he’ll likely come off the bench, backing up Westbrook, but that would likely change in the scenario that the Lakers trade Westbrook. He was the No. Westbrook would miss the remainder of the playoffs and the Thunder lost in the next round. As Westbrook slowed to call for a midcourt timeout, Beverley attempted a steal and sideswiped Westbrook, tearing the meniscus in Westbrook’s right knee in the process. He can start or come off the bench, shape-shifting to the needs of a given lineup. Beverley — at 34 years old — fits the Lakers, and 21-year-old Horton-Tucker fits the Jazz. The Lakers and Jazz have been linked in recent weeks due to Utah’s impending fire sale, and Beverley was one of the popular trade candidates. But Beverley has the skill set that the Lakers were looking for. Beverley averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists across 58 games last season with the Timberwolves. [Stanley Johnson](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/stanley-johnson-m1sAGyzX1qXm8fbR/) is also heading to Utah in the deal, league sources told The Athletic’s Tony Jones.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers finalizing a deal to acquire veteran guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz. The deal will ...

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 ...

He had no idea he was traded in the middle of the night. The Other winning players, like Beverley, will fall by the wayside, too.

After weeks of stillness on the NBA free agency and trading front, due largely to Kevin Durant's trade request and eventual decision to remain a Net, ...

The Lakers were reportedly becoming more willing to include both first-rounders in a trade for Kyrie Irving. The Lakers’ move for Beverley was a great start. The Lakers do have options. And maybe the most impressive thing the Lakers did in this trade is hanging onto both of their tradable first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. It’s hard to imagine a backcourt of Westbrook and Beverley working in harmony. Maybe it’s with the Pacers for Buddy Hield (and also Myles Turner?).

The Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a trade that sends Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Patrick Beverley, ...

The Lakers were hesitant to move Horton-Tucker in the past, but in Beverley they got a player who is better equipped to contribute to a team under a lot of pressure to make a playoff run. The Lakers were high on Horton-Tucker for quite some time, and now the Jazz will hope that he continues to improve. Horton-Tucker could prove to be the better player in the long-run, but the Lakers are in win-now mode, and that's why the move was made. Stanley Johnson is a serviceable role player, but it remains to be seen just how big of a role he'll have in Utah. He averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 25.2 minutes per game for the Lakers last season -- numbers that could possibly improve in an expanded role on a rebuilding Jazz team. It will be interesting to see how well Westbrook and Beverley are able to coexist in the locker room, as the two have had He's not the type of player that needs to have a lot of plays ran for him to be effective, which is good because the Lakers already have a couple of those. [Russell Westbrook](/nba/players/1622555/russell-westbrook/) is no secret and now that Beverley is in town they have someone who can take his place in the starting lineup. Danny Ainge started a tear down with the Gobert trade and there was no reason to keep Beverley around as they join the race to the bottom and expected No. But with the Jazz embarking on a rebuild -- star guard [Donovan Mitchell](/nba/players/2842760/donovan-mitchell/) may be traded at some point this offseason as well -- Beverley was a prime candidate to be rerouted to another team. A veteran and one of the toughest perimeter defenders in the league, Beverley makes much more sense on this Lakers roster. With both of those players now seemingly staying in Brooklyn, it will be interesting to see if the proverbial dam breaks and more moves follow this Beverley trade.

After securing a commitment from LeBron James through at least next season, the trade was made with the big picture in mind.

Other potential free agents of note include a host of former Lakers in Josh Hart (player option) Kyle Kuzma (player option), Larry Nance Jr. Could the Lakers buy low on TJ McConnell, who missed 55 games last season and is set to make $8.1 million in the 2022-23 campaign? LA's acquisition of Beverley has caused many to speculate whether or not this is a move made with the idea that Westbrook's days as a Laker are numbered. While Beverley adds an edge to a Lakers team that missed the postseason in 2022, the trade could be much more than what meets the eye. For Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office, there's a two-year clock to rebuild the franchise back into contender status, as James' potential to move on will continue to loom as a threat. With a month remaining until training camp for the 2022-23 season, the Lakers are looking to make the most of what remains of the offseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz for Talen-Horton Tucker and Stanley Johnson.

Beverley is on a one-year, $13 million contract, and after next season, the Lakers will have just four players signed for the 2023-24 season (James, Davis, Damian Jones, Max Christie), giving the franchise an opportunity to rebuild the roster next summer. The Lakers get a defensive-minded guard who fits into first-year coach Darvin Ham’s plan to improve on that side of the court. The Los Angeles Lakers acquired guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz for Talen-Horton Tucker and Stanley Johnson, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a trade to acquire Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverley, sources told ESPN.

Beverley was eager to join the Lakers in a trade, sources said, and thrilled to learn of the impending deal. [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell). [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) ($46.7 million) and [Anthony Davis](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6583/anthony-davis) ($40.6 million) on the Lakers' books in 2023-24, delivering them significant salary-cap space to remake the roster around those two All-NBA stars. [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4396991/talen-horton-tucker) and forward [Stanley Johnson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3134881/stanley-johnson) to the Jazz, sources said. [Minnesota Timberwolves](/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves)' return to the playoffs last season before landing in Utah as part of the [Rudy Gobert](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3032976/rudy-gobert) trade. [Los Angeles Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) have finalized a trade to acquire [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) guard [Patrick Beverley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3964/patrick-beverley), sources told ESPN.

The Lakers' latest acquisition, Patrick Beverley, has a history of on-court animosity with Russell Westbrook, the guard the team wants to unload.

“A lot of people do it throughout the league,” Beverley told reporters that night. “Like, coaching staffs and players, fans, they looked at me way different. “Nobody over there has done anything in this league that would make me pick my eyes up, like, ‘Oh, they’re talking mess. [Russell Westbrook](https://www.latimes.com/sports/newsletter/2022-07-29/russell-westbrook-trade-lakers) wanted a timeout. “I don’t go out to try and hurt anybody. “He don’t guard nobody, man.

It's possible that the Lakers move the former NBA MVP before the start of the 2022-23 season, but for now, Westbrook will be forced to team up with one of ...

When Westbrook and the Thunder met Beverley and the Rockets in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the script had flipped. Westbrook and Beverley shared a few comments with each other after the whistle. Westbrook was eventually diagnosed with a torn meniscus, and he missed the rest of the playoffs. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, had won seven of their last 10 games, pushing them up to the No. The Lakers had lost seven of their last 10 games, dropping them down to No. When asked about the play, Beverley told reporters, "I didn't [feel like it was a flagrant foul]. However, Harden went 0-of-6 from the field against Beverley with four turnovers, per Beverley went for a steal as a timeout was being called and collided with Westbrook's right knee. The Thunder entered the 2013 NBA Playoffs as the No. How did the Westbrook vs. The Lakers will reportedly send Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Jazz as part of the deal, which is expected to be completed on Thursday. And how has it evolved over the past decade?

LeBron James is expecting a bounce-back year from Los Angeles Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook, who's been the focus of trade rumors throughout the summer.

missed the playoffs with a 33-49 record. But James sounds confident a different version of Russ is going to show up in October and, if he's still with the Lake Show, that could push the team back toward contention. It'll be nearly impossible for the Lakers to rebound into the championship discussion if the 33-year-old UCLA product is once again a liability at both ends of the floor in 2022-23.

After a rough first season with the Lakers in which he struggled to mesh offensively with LeBron James and others, Russell Westbrook has been the target of ...

James responded to a tweet about Westbrook that was posted on Thursday morning and Since signing that contract, Westbrook has played for the Rockets, Wizards and now, the Lakers, where he will be due over $47 million this season. His large contract makes him a difficult trade piece given his on-court struggles relative to what he’s owed.

Patrick Beverley has been on the move over the last couple of years. After getting his NBA start with the Daryl Morey-led Houston Rockets, Beverley was ...

After the Melton acquisition, only two teams were rumored to be in the mix for Beverley in the Miami Heat and the Lakers. Considering Beverley has ties to Morey and James Harden from his Houston days and played for Doc Rivers in Los Angeles, Beverley going to the City of Brotherly Love would make sense. At this point, the latter squad will see a defensive boost in their backcourt for the upcoming season. Less than ten days after getting dealt to Memphis, Beverley was flipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that kept him around for the year. Although Beverley embraced playing for the Utah Jazz next season, it was evident he could be on the move again. Tucker as an example, a player like Beverley certainly fit the bill.

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverley in a trade for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson, the team announced on Thursday.

Beverley was eager to join the Lakers in a trade, sources said, and thrilled to learn of the impending deal. "We are thrilled to add Patrick Beverley's toughness and competitive spirit to our team," Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) ($46.7 million) and [Anthony Davis](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6583/anthony-davis) ($40.6 million) on the Lakers' books in 2023-24, delivering them significant salary-cap space to remake the roster around those two All-NBA stars. [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4396991/talen-horton-tucker) and forward [Stanley Johnson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3134881/stanley-johnson) to the Jazz. [Minnesota Timberwolves](/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves)' return to the playoffs last season before landing in Utah as part of the [Rudy Gobert](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3032976/rudy-gobert) trade. [Los Angeles Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) acquire [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) guard [Patrick Beverley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3964/patrick-beverley) in a trade, the team announced on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson.

Across 65 career playoff games (54 starts) with the Timberwolves, Clippers and Rockets, Beverley has averaged 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.7 minutes per game, while shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. Beverley (6’1”, 180) averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 58 games (54 starts) for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. A seven-year NBA veteran, Johnson began the 2021-22 season with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League before signing three separate 10-day contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson was signed by LA for the remainder of the season on Jan. In 526 career NBA games (438 starts) across 10 seasons with Minnesota (2021-22), LA Clippers (2017-21) and Houston (2012-17), he has averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.4 minutes per game, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range. “We are thrilled to add Patrick Beverley’s toughness and competitive spirit to our team,” Pelinka said.

'He's never forgiven him': Ugly incident sparked 'bad blood'... and could force Lakers star out.

I knew this motherf***er; the only thing he did is run around and stuff like that.’ You know, it’s no fun when the rabbit gots the gun now. “The only thing he does is run around.’ So, obviously, I had one bad game. “well my boy is The Real Magician this year.” If one person says one thing, that’s how they take it. “I’m like, ‘What the f***?’ All because of what one person said, and that’s how the media is. Buva reported Westbrook has “never forgiven” Beverley for the knee injury and that the pair have had “bad blood” ever since.

Los Angeles will acquire the Utah guard for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson.

If the Jazz end up trading Donovan Mitchell, there will be ample chance for Horton-Tucker to soak up possessions on the perimeter and find his footing in an NBA rotation. last season after first joining the team as a COVID-19 replacement player. Beverley is on his third team this offseason after previously [being traded to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/07/01/rudy-gobert-jazz-timberwolves-trade-grades). (Beverley may even be their most impactful move of the summer so far.) Still, while the trade is solid, it serves as a reminder of LA’s previous mismanagement. The Lakers had a better version of Pat Bev in Alex Caruso. [Russell Westbrook–Kyrie Irving rumors](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/07/20/russell-westbrook-lakers-best-fit-trade-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](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/08/25/lakers-acquire-patrick-beverley-trade-with-jazz).

LeBron James backed up his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook after the team traded for Patrick Beverley, one of Westbrook's on-court archrivals.

[RUSSELL WESTBROOK, PATRICK BEVERLEY REIGNITE RIVALRY ON COURT, DRAW POLICE PRESENCE](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/russell-westbrook-patrick-beverley-reignite-rivalry-on-court-draws-police-presence) [Lakers acquiring Patrick Beverley](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lakers-acquire-patrick-beverley-jazz-talen-horton-tucker-stanley-johnson-report) didn't help put an end to those talks among NBA fans, as he and Westbrook have had their issues on the court. [CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP](https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products) [he tweeted](https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1562810721968070656). [CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM](https://www.foxnews.com/sports) [LeBron James](https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/lebron-james) seems to have silenced the critics after responding to a tweet in support of his teammate Westbrook, despite his poor 2021-22 season.

The Los Angeles Lakers for Patrick Beverley could spell the end of L.A.'s relationship with its best-paid player.

Going from a star attraction in his first season with the Lakers to persona non grata even before his second season starts is quite the descent for Westbrook. The 6'3" floor general has lost a step, but he does not seem to have realized that yet. In the first season of his second stint with the Celtics, a 36-year-old Horford served as a full-time starter and the team returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, falling in six games to the Golden State Warriors. The Thunder were eventually able to offload Horford to the Celtics. The Houston Rockets sent a healthy John Wall away from the club for all of the 2021-22 season rather than buy out the former five-time All-Star point guard, while Oklahoma City took the same approach with former five-time All-Star big man Al Horford during the second half of the 2020-21 season. This season, Westbrook is set to make $47.1 million in the final year of the maximum-salary contract he inked while still with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have acquired a veteran capable of starting at the point in Patrick Beverley, is the team more or less likely to trade ...

Somewhere in that mess of iffy options is a solution that could lead to a Westbrook deal. If the goal is to win with James with two years fully promised, hoping on a half-baked cap space plan for half of that time is unwise. If the target is Irving as a free agent, he could earn up to a max of $46.6 million. In terms of sacrificing future firsts (likely 2027 and 2029), the danger is that James and Davis may be long gone by then. That number could rise and fall by the 2023-24 salary cap (currently projected at $133 million), a new collective bargaining agreement, their first-round pick in 2023 (the New Orleans Pelicans have swap rights) and which players they intend to re-sign. But the Lakers should be realistic. Los Angeles isn't believed to be interested in moving Westbrook with draft compensation for players that don't move the needle toward a championship. The Lakers have diligently minded its cap space for the summer of 2023. A run at Kyrie Irving appears to be a dead end with Kevin Durant and the The price and the return will determine how likely the Lakers are to send off Westbrook in a trade. The Lakers are believed to covet Myles Turner from the Pacers, giving the team additional versatility up front with Anthony Davis, Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones. At least now, with Beverley, they have a suitable starting point guard to replace him.