Sources told ESPN that the Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a trade to acquire Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverly.
Sources said the deal, completed Thursday morning, sends Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Jazz.
Beverly mentioned the deal in a tweet Thursday morning, writing that he “wake up with one!”
Beverly, 34, returns to Los Angeles after spending 2017 to 2021 with the Clippers, bringing with him a well-established toughness and defensive presence that new coach Darwin Hamm is likely to implement in defense, finishing 21st in the league last season. are determined to.
Beverly played a key role in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ return to the playoffs before landing in Utah as part of a Rudy Gobert trade. Sources said, Beverly was looking forward to engaging in a trade with the Lakers, and was thrilled to learn of the impending deal.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, over the past five seasons, Beverly has placed opponents as the closest defender for 41.9% shooting, the second-best among players defending 2,000 shots.
Beverly’s arrival at the end of a $13 million contract essentially leaves only LeBron James ($46.7 million) and Anthony Davis ($40.6 million) on the Lakers’ books in 2023–24, making them those two All-NBA stars.
The Jazz acquired 21-year-old Horton-Tucker, as the franchise heads toward a rebuild. Utah All-Star guard remains active in trade talks over Donovan Mitchell. Horton-Tucker averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Lakers last season.
Johnson averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season.