At the NBA trade deadline on Thursday February 9, 2023, Patrick Beverley’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers came to an abrupt end. The Lakers shipped off the guard to the Orlando Magic in exchange for center Mo Bamba and a second round pick.
The 7’0″ Bamba provides the size Los Angeles have been missing since their championship in the bubble. The Lakers have already revamped their backcourt in a three team deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz and brought D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley to L.A.
Beverley’s future was uncertain over the course of the year as his team struggled, but it appeared that he might ultimately be safe. He is acclaimed for his trademark aggressive defensive style, but has also demonstrated sharp accuracy from beyond the arc hitting 34.8 percent of his three-pointers this season for the Lakers.
The Lakers as a team have sorely lacked a consistency from beyond the arc, ranking 26th in the league with a 33.8 percent accuracy. Although Pat Beverley has been trying his best to make an impact, averaging 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season isn’t enough. Perhaps a change of scenery can help as Beverley looks to help an inexperienced Magic squad continue to develop, provided they don’t buy him out.