The Los Angeles Lakers made their first trade of the NBA offseason on Wednesday night. They acquired Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson.
While Beverley is a nice addition to the backcourt given his skill set as a secondary playmaker, 3-point shooter, and tenacious defender, the Lakers will need a lot more if they wish to contend during the upcoming season. That Beverley trade was just the first move.
Retaining all of their available draft capital was big for Los Angeles, as they still have some assets to swing a bigger trade. They would love to move on from Russell Westbrook and with Beverley now in the fold, they have a point guard that can step into the starting lineup.
One of the rumors floating around is that the Lakers would get involved in a potential Donovan Mitchell blockbuster. They would not be the ones acquiring the three-time All-Star, but instead, they would help facilitate a deal as the third team.
The New York Knicks look to be the favorites to land Mitchell at this point and some scenarios have been tossed around with them, the Jazz and Lakers. One player who has been rumored as a target for the purple and gold is their former draft pick, Julius Randle.
Randle was selected No. 7 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft and spent the first four seasons of his career in Los Angeles. However, a reunion doesn’t seem to be in the cards according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
If the Lakers have learned anything from last season, it is that fit matters. Westbrook was a questionable fit and they learned the hard way how negative that can be when they went 33-49 last season.
Randle’s presence would push Anthony Davis to the center spot, something he has been averse to doing in the past. Outside of his All-NBA Second Team performance during the 2020-21 season, Randle has not been a consistent 3-point shooter either, something the Lakers need more of around their superstar duo.
While Julius Randle is likely best suited as a third option on a team, he would be an awkward one for the Lakers. While a better fit than Westbrook, that has proven to be a low bar to clear.
For the latest surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, check out our NBA news and trade
3 Lakers Trade Scenarios After Acquiring Patrick Beverley
Donovan Mitchell’s Preferred Trade Destinations Revealed
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