Lakers Acquiring Patrick Beverley, Sending Talen Horton-Tucker To Jazz

The Lakers and Jazz have agreed on a trade that will send Patrick Beverley to LA in exchange for forwards Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The deal, expected to be official Thursday or Friday, does not involve draft picks, Wojnarowski added.

Beverley was already traded once this offseason, as part of the Jazz’s blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade with the Timberwolves. Before being traded to Utah, ESPN asked Beverley if he’d want to play with LeBron James and today’s Lakers.

“Yes, I wouldn’t even hesitate,” he responded.

Pat Bev says he would want to play for the Lakers if he couldn’t play for the Wolves pic.twitter.com/PnDFWall5Q

— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) May 16, 2022

Beverley, 34, appeared in 58 games last season with the Timberwolves, averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds, continuing in his role as one of the NBA’s most energizing and pesky backcourt defenders. 

He is highly likely to bring that type of veteran know-how to the Lakers to backup Westbrook, and perhaps, play alongside him at times. That is, of course, the Lakers continue to be unable to trade Westbrook.

Meanwhile, the Jazz received two younger players to help with their rebuild, with Horton-Tucker being the key to the deal.

Horton-Tucker, 21, is 6-5 and just completed his third NBA season, all with the Lakers, appearing in 60 games and averaging career-highs of 10.0 points and 3.2 rebounds, shooting 42 percent from the floor.

Johnson, 26, is 6-6 and signed a 10-day deal with the Bulls in December, then followed it with three 10-day deals with the Lakers, before being signed to a standard deal at the end of January. 

Overall, Johnson appeared in 58 games and averaged 6.7 points. He has also spent time with the Pistons, Pelicans and Raptors since being selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He is expected to get every opportunity to stick in Utah.

Along with Beverley, the Jazz received Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro and multiple first-round picks in the Gobert trade with the Timberwolves.