Lakers trade that will absolutely now happen after Patrick Beverley trade
By Jason Reed
With a Kyrie Irving trade officially off the table, the Los Angeles Lakers could finally go to work and did just that. Late on Thursday night it was reported that the Lakers were trading Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley.
This move shocked fans who were still high on THT and also sparked plenty of discussion about how Beverley would fit along with Russell Westbrook. After all, Westbrook and Beverley are not the biggest fans of each other.
Some view that as a big problem for the Lakers this upcoming season but the fact of the matter is that it won’t be. Not because the two will squash their differences, though. But because a Westbrook trade is now inevitable, and the exact trade that the Lakers will make seems fairly obvious.
The Los Angeles Lakers will trade Russell Westbrook to the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner.
There are a few different directions that the Lakers could go with a Westbrook trade but after this initial Beverley trade it is quite clear that this is the direction they are gearing up to go. Los Angeles is likely going to have to attach two future first-round picks with Westbrook to make this deal happen but the end result is a much better starting five.
We can rule out the most notable other Westbrook destination after this deal. With Charlotte long being off the table, the other potential Westbrook trade that has been discussed is another deal with the Utah Jazz.
This potential trade would see Westbrook and picks go to Utah, Donovan Mitchell go to New York with other contracts coming back to LA. In theory, the Lakers could take on someone like Julius Randle and Evan Fournier as the Jazz are better off with an expiring contract in Westbrook.
However, one would think that the Lakers could have done this Beverley deal as part of that. The teams would have had to wait until August 30 to trade Beverley alongside other players since he was just acquired but it is not like a Mitchell trade is happening any time soon.
Instead, it is the Indiana deal that makes a lot more sense. Los Angeles just bolstered their perimeter defense with Beverley and can afford to add a much-needed shooter that doesn’t play good defense in Hield.
The potential of Turner and Anthony Davis together in the front court is legitimately exciting from a defensive presence and offensively Turner helps stretch the floor as well. While Hield and Turner have their issues, from a logistics standpoint, they are perfect fits in this starting five.
Los Angeles should know that and by trading for Beverley this early, they are committing to trading Westbrook before the season begins. Before we know it, he will be an Indiana Pacer (and probably will end up getting bought out).