On Wednesday evening, Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a “Woj Bomb” on NBA Twitter, announcing a trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz involving Patrick Beverley and Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers traded for Beverley, a three-time All-Defensive Team selection, in exchange for the 21-year-old Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson.
Patrick Beverley is returning to LA — this time, with LeBron James and the Lakers pic.twitter.com/SHY6XGLIAa
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 25, 2022
Grading the Patrick Beverley Los Angeles Lakers Trade
What This Trade Means for the Jazz
The Jazz receive two young assets who offer varying specialties. Horton-Tucker is a ball-dominant player who thrives in drives and holds promise as a three-point shooter. Last season, he put up a career-high 10 points per game to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 42-27-80 splits. Johnson is a defensive specialist with an expanding offensive game. Aside from 0.9 steals, the 26-year-old combo forward averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 47-31-71 splits.
Both of these players have tons of potential and could contribute to the Jazz right away. They each receive new opportunities and fresh starts to play for an organization looking to defy their past early-exit expectations.
What This Trade Means for the Lakers
Lakers fans across social media have had mixed reactions to the trade, welcoming Beverley with open arms while moping over the fact that fan-favorite Stanley Johnson was moved.
The purple and gold receive a tough, defensive-minded player who will fit head coach Darvin Ham’s system like a glove. Last season with the Timberwolves, Beverley averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on 41-34-72 splits. After being included in the Rudy Gobert trade, he returns to the Lakers – the team that drafted and traded him in 2009 – and gets an opportunity to contribute to a prestigious organization.
An underrated aspect of Beverley’s game is his improved three-point shooting. Though he shot a career-low 34% from deep last year, he has consistently hit 38-40% of his threes throughout most of his career. He made a career-high 40% of his triples twice, once with the Houston Rockets in 2015-16 and again with the LA Clippers in 2017-18. Additionally, it is worth noting that he averaged a career-high 12.2 points per game with the Clippers while hitting that 40% mark from distance.
Overall, Beverley brings a gritty mentality that the Lakers missed for most of last season. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he will still make an impact on the court. His leadership off the floor will be just as critical.
Grading the Trade
Overall, this trade receives a B-. The Lakers gave up their two key young assets for a gritty guard who is not getting any younger. Utah benefits a little more in this deal with the depth they acquire. However, time will tell how Horton-Tucker and Johnson fit, and if they stay with the Jazz in the long run.
