3. Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley was included in the odd trade for Eric Bledsoe that resulted in Rajon Rondo getting bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies and signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of getting bought out by Memphis, Beverley was then flipped in another confusing move for Jarrett Culver to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Why Minnesota would give up a young asset like Culver for Patrick Beverley is beyond me. Beverley is a really good piece to have on a contending team but he is not going to change the culture of the Timberwolves, especially in the tough Western Conference.
The Timberwolves are still going to be horrible and there is a good chance that Beverley is a buyout candidate. Like Young, another team would have an easier time trading for Beverley’s $13.3 million salary, but a buyout is still possible.
Beverley would fit the defensive identity that the Lakers have built over the last two seasons and would replace the defensive loss of Alex Caruso, which is going to have a much bigger impact on this team than many people realize.
The only drawback of Beverley is that the team really does not need another point guard. Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn and Rajon Rondo is a fine point guard rotation and it would be hard to fit Beverley into that mold.
However, the Lakers could go unconventional because of Beverley’s defensive prowess and Westbrook’s size and run a combination that has Beverley alongside Westbrook (or Nunn/Rondo) in the backcourt.
The Lakers could run a really fun three guard lineup (similar to what OKC did with Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Dennis Schroder) with Westbrook, Beverley and THT/Ellington with LeBron and Davis in the frontcourt.
With Beverley’s defense, Westbrook’s athleticism and THT’s length, that is not a bad outlook whatsoever.