Trade Notes: Lakers, Jazz, Talen Horton-Tucker, Donovan Mitchell

Lakers

• The trade that is sending Patrick Beverley from the Jazz to Lakers has been finalized, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. In return, as we relayed, the Jazz are receiving Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson.
• What will Beverley bring to the Lakers? Actually, it’s fairly evident. His tenacity and passion can be contagious, and the Lakers could definitely use more of both. Last year, he clashed with Russell Westbrook, yelling “he’s trash” during a stoppage in play. Beverley now says he’d love to play with Westbrook.
• CBS Sports gave the Lakers a “B” grade on the trade. “Beverley won’t solve all of their issues, but he will singlehandedly make them tougher and better on the defensive side of the ball,” wrote CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney & Michael Kaskey-Blomain. “He’s also a reliable 3-point shooter — 38.5 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts last season — who can help space the floor around LeBron James and offers some additional playmaking.”

Jazz

Horton-Tucker talked about his versatility and plans to improve after the season, his third in the NBA (all in LA).

“I feel like every situation that I’ve been in is almost like a learning experience, and being on the ball, off the ball is just an experience that you need,” Horton-Tucker he said, via Dan Woike of the LA Times. “Obviously I felt better with the ball in my hands, and I felt I had success with that, but learning to play with the stars is the most important thing they wanted me to do coming in, so that’s it.”

• The Jazz are continuing to try to move Donovan Mitchell, with some around the league viewing the trade with the Lakers as a way to help open the door. The Knicks remain the most likely trade partner in the eyes of many.
• While Mitchell hasn’t asked the Jazz for a trade, he prefers the Knicks, Heat and Nets above other destinations, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. The Cavaliers, Wizards and Hornets are reportedly among the others who have spoken to the Jazz about Mitchell.
• Utah remains open to keeping Mitchell and rebuilding the roster around him, Jones added. Couple that with Mitchell’s willingness to stay with the organization, and he may not be traded at all.