Patrick Beverley-Russell Westbrook Beef Said To Still Exist After Lakers Trade

While the Lakers reportedly have finalized their trade with the Jazz for Patrick Beverley, they may still have some work to do.

According to Sarah Todd of the Deseret News, Beverley and new LA teammate Russell Westbrook do not care for each other — leading some to believe that the Lakers are more determined than ever to ship out Westbrook.

“Beverley makes things interesting because Westbrook and Beverley do not like each other. I don’t say that in a funny, ha-ha, fake way that other NBA players have had beef,” Todd wrote. “This isn’t like (Rudy) Gobert and Hassan Whiteside who trash talked each other a few times and had some social media sparring only to then brush it all aside and become teammates. Westbrook and Beverley publicly, brashly, truly do not like one another. At all.”

Last season, Beverley and Westbrook clashed in a game while Beverley was with the Timberwolves. During one stoppage in play, Beverley held his nose and yelled “he’s trash” in reference to Westbrook.

The Lakers have explored multiple Westbrook trade scenarios this summer, but have unable to find a taker without surrendering each of their two next available first-round picks.

Several league sources have told Hoops Wire they believe the Lakers will eventually reach a deal with the Pacers to unload Westbrook. Todd also reported after the Lakers-Jazz trade that the Pacers are “looking like the most realistic trade partner” in a Westbrook deal.

As we relayed, the Pacers and Lakers have talked about a trade that would involve Westbrook, draft picks, Indiana guard Buddy Hield and center Myles Turner. But at last check, those talks went nowhere.

Now, perhaps, the addition of Beverley will make the Lakers a little more likely to pull the trigger on a deal.

“They’re not done yet,” a rival GM told Hoops Wire following the Beverley trade. “I can’t imagine this is the team they’re going to enter the season with.”