On Wednesday, August 24^th, 2022 the Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a trade to acquire the aggressive defensive specialist and point guard, Patrick Beverley, from the rebuilding and roster constructing NBA franchise of the Utah Jazz.

The deal was officially transacted in the very early morning hours of Thursday, August 25^th, 2022, and this trade moves both the former Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton – Tucker and the former Los Angeles Lakers forward Stanley Johnson to the Utah Jazz.

Beverley took to social media to express his excitement in this NBA blockbuster trade sending him from the Utah Jazz to Los Angeles to become a Laker for the first time in his NBA career. On Thursday morning Patrick tweeted in writing that he, “Woke up a Laker!”

What Patrick Beverley brings to the table for the L. A. Lakers

The now 34 – year – old defensive focused veteran NBA guard in Beverley returns to Los Angeles to play ball in the National Basketball Association as he previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017 to 2021. Patrick provides a lock down defensive prowess on the court, and he also brings strong energy and leadership as he gets in the heads of his opponents which sometimes takes opposing players out of their game.

Beverley brings with him the well – established ferocity and defensive abilities and effort that the Los Angeles Lakers newly appointed head coach, Darvin Ham, is planning on implementing into the Los Angeles Lakers weak defensive nature that had them ranked a below average spot of 21^st in the National Basketball Association by the conclusion of the previous 2021 – 2022 NBA season.

Patrick Beverley the NBA Journeyman

Patrick played a very important role in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ long awaited return to the NBA playoffs during last season earlier this year prior to him getting moved to the Utah Jazz as a big piece of the blockbuster NBA trade that sent Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a multitude of players earlier during this current 2022 NBA offseason. Patrick was extremely enthusiastic to join the Los Angeles Lakers via this latest NBA trade.

Throughout the previous 5 – NBA seasons, Patrick has held his opponents that he has guarded to a mere 41.9 % shooting percentage as the closest defender, the 2^nd best among NBA players defending a minimum of 2,000 shots.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Financial Situation with the Arrival of Beverley

Patrick’s arrival is on the tail – end of an expiring $13 million contract which essentially leaves only LeBron James at $46.7 million and Anthony Davis at $40.6 million on the Los Angeles Lakers’ salary so far for the upcoming 2023 – 2024 NBA season that will offer the L. A. Lakers a significant amount of salary – cap space in order for them to retool their player roster for this year’s coming NBA season as they wanted to completely rebuild around James and Davis moving forward.

The Utah Jazz gets …

… Horton – Tucker who is currently 21 – years – old as the Utah Jazz has decided to blow up their roster and make drastic changes in hopes of improving from where they ended up over the course of the past few NBA seasons. The Utah Jazz remains as a big player in trade talks as they look to move their perennial NBA All – Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Horton – Tucker averaged 10 – points, 3.2 – rebounds, and 2.7 – assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021 – 2022 NBA season. Johnson averaged 6.7 – points, 3.2 – rebounds, and 1.7 – assists per game throughout the last NBA season also with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Patrick Beverley’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

• NBA All – Defensive First Team Selection (2017)
• 2 – Time NBA All – Defensive Second Team Selection (2014, 2020)
• EuroCup MVP Award Winner (2012)
• All – EuroCup First Team Selection (2012)
• 2 – Time Russian League All – Symbolic First Team Selection (2011, 2012)
• Russian Cup Winner (2011)
• Russian League Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner (2011)
• Russian League All – Star Selection (2011)
• Russian League Guard of the Year Award Winner (2011)
• Greek Cup Winner (2010)
• UBL All – Star Selection (2009)
• UBL Slam Dunk Contest Champion (2009)
• Second – Team All – SEC Selection (2007)
• SEC Freshman of the Year Award Winner (2007)
• SEC All – Freshman Team Selection (2007)