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NBA trade rumors: A home run Patrick Beverley trade for Lakers, Wolves

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 06: tx21in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 06, 2023 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 06: tx21in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 06, 2023 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

Why the Los Angeles Lakers could say yes to this trade:

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a weird position. The team very obviously has potential and when they are fully healthy they are a team that no one wants to see in a playoff series. With a wide-open Western Conference, fans want the front office to capitalize on that.

So the Lakers need to make improvements but there is a problem. The team does not have many assets to put together to improve the roster. The assets that LA does have (the 2027 and 2029 firsts) the front office does not want to trade.

It is understandable as it would not make sense to trade two of the most valuable picks in the sport right now to marginally improve. Not only is that a waste but if LA is patient they could get a much better return.

This is a trade that allows the Lakers to capitalize on the little assets they have to trade while still getting an improvement in return. Sure, it might not be a massive improvement, but it would be an improvement nonetheless.

For the price of a second-round pick, the Lakers could swap Patrick Beverley for Josh Richardson, who at his best would offer a very similar dynamic to this team that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did two years ago.

Even if Richardson fully does not work out, it is worth the second-round pick (especially with LA still getting the Pelicans’ first-round pick this year) to take a flier on an expiring contract that fits more with what this team needs to add.

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