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Reports: Lakers trade for veteran guard Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley, in sunglasses and street clothes, rolls his suitcase while boarding the plane.

Patrick Beverley is reportedly on the move for the second time this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers look to have made a late offseason move Wednesday night, with multiple reports indicating they’re on the cusp of acquiring veteran point guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz.

Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson would be off to Utah in exchange.

Beverley was viewed as a key contributor to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ return to the playoffs last season, starting 54 games and averaging 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 34.3% on 3-pointers. Included as part of the five-player, five-pick package for Rudy Gobert in July, Beverley will pass through Utah without suiting up for the Jazz. Barring any further moves by the Lakers, Beverley would be in the backcourt mix alongside Russell Westbrook, with whom he shares a contentious history.

Horton-Tucker plateaued in his third season with LA, despite playing a larger role (25.2 mpg vs. 20.1 in 2020-21). Johnson, originally drafted No. 8 overall by Detroit in 2015, latched on with the Lakers following a few 10-day contracts, ultimately averaging 6.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg in 22.8 mpg in 48 games (27 starts).

Shortly after news of the trade broke, Beverley took to Twitter and posted a praying hands emoji. The move of Beverley to Utah continues an offseason of change for the Jazz in which they traded 3-and-D swingman Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn in June and have had trade rumors swirling around All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell for weeks now.