Patrick Beverley fires back at Skip Bayless for desperately trying to stir Lakers drama

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have the best vibes last season, so the decision to trade for Patrick Beverley and pair him with longtime nemesis Russell Westbrook seemed a bit odd when the move went down. The last thing this team needed was another demonstrative personality in the room.

Luckily, things have gone fairly swimmingly so far. Beverley is ready to take another team to the playoffs, and Westbrook is back with the team as he tries to get back on track. That hasn’t stopped Skip Bayless, founding member of the anti-LeBron James Hall of Fame, from hating in his trademark fashion.

Bayless tried to stir the pot when he noticed that Westbrook was not sitting next to James, Beverley, and Anthony Davis on the bench in street clothes. Beverley has his flaws, but one of his strengths is the fact that he is never going to let stuff like this slide.

Beverley told Skip to “stop searching” for anything that can be considered a juicy scoop used to get one over on the Lakers. As if being on the LeBron hater Mount Rushmore wasn’t enough, Skip is now trying to get in body blows at his acolytes on the Lakers. Just cool your jets, man.

https://twitter.com/patbev21/status/1578252044745392128

Lakers: Patrick Beverley shut down Skip Bayless.

While there has been a general lack of clarity about Westbrook’s role this season, most seem to think that he’ll be playing the same ball-dominant style he’s been used to over the last few years while Beverley will provide defense and 3-point shooting. That arrangement shouldn’t cause too much consternation.

Relations between Westbrook and the Lakers themselves might be slightly messy at this point in time, as he is well aware of the fact that the team was openly courting names like Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. Between teammates, however, things look more civil.

This seems like more classic Bayless hyperbole, trying to manufacture gossip out of athletes and teams where none exists. The duo was celebrating together during a preseason matchup against the Suns, setting the tone for what promises (on paper) to be a much better season.

The Lakers may not be holding hands and singing Kumbaya right now, but Bayless is reaching so hard to create some turmoil he might dislocate his shoulder. This team might break apart in a few months time, but things appear to have gotten off to a relatively smooth start.

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