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Lakers: 3 Talen Horton-Tucker trades that now make perfect sense

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Bringing Patrick Beverley back to Los Angeles

The Utah Jazz made a genius trade by flipping Rudy Gobert for expiring contracts and a boat load of picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While Minnesota is going to enjoy a better regular-season record with Gobert, that team is not going to contend for a title after this trade. Meanwhile, the Jazz get off of a contract that would have been really bad in two years and get a ton of draft capital.

Utah really should be in the business of blowing the entire team up and it would not be the biggest surprise if they also traded Donovan Mitchell this offseason. At the very least, they could take the Portland approach and keep Mitchell while trying to rebuild for one year and potentially even tank for Wembanyama.

Patrick Beverley is a nice piece for Utah if they are trying to contend but they likely are not trying to do that. Instead, the team might be better off flipping him for a young asset like Talen Horton-Tucker, especially considering Beverley is on an expiring contract.

Beverley would be a fantastic backup point guard for the Lakers regardless of who the starting point guard is. This team needs defense and Beverley would bring that defense and an edge that the team does not have off the bench.

Beverley did name LeBron James as his dream superstar teammate earlier this offseason. Perhaps that may have been foreshadowing for what is to come in the 2022-23 season.

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