Los Angeles Lakers: Patrick Beverley is perfect for this team
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers now have some work to do after trading for Anthony Davis to build a completed roster to contend for the NBA Championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers were not going to wait until the offseason officially began and didn’t even give the Toronto Raptors their fair share of the spotlight as the team has already completed a deal for superstar Anthony Davis.
This trade finally cashes in on the hope that the Lakers would bring in a second superstar and in a wide-open Western Conference, the Lakers are now the early favorites to win the NBA Title.
The front office is not done at just Davis, however, as the team has some moves to make to build a completed roster around Davis and LeBron James. The team sent away three players in the deal, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, adding two more holes in a rotation that was already missing pieces because of free agents.
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The Lakers have money to spend, though. Although it appears as if the team won’t have enough to sign a third star because of Davis’ trade kicker, the team can still fill out the roster will several key role players.
Out of all of the possibilities in this deep free agent class, there is one name that has emerged as a perfect fit and a potential fan-favorite: none-other than Patrick Beverley.
Several teams are in on Beverley, giving the Los Angeles Lakers plenty of work to do. The point guard could stay with the Clippers, return to the Houston Rockets or even come home to the Chicago Bulls, which might be the most likely outcome.
However, if Beverley cares at all about winning (which he obviously does) then there is no better place to sign than the Lakers. Not only is he getting a chance to contend but he would be signing with a team that fits his game perfectly.
With LeBron acting as the primary ball-handler and distributor, the Lakers do not need a point guard that takes the ball up the court and creates plays. While Beverley can do that, that has never been the best area of his game.
Instead, the Lakers would be bringing him in for his defense and ferocity on the court. Every title-contending team should have that glue-guy defender that can rotate onto guys and cause a stir on the defensive end. Heck, just look at how valuable Draymond Green is to the Golden State Warriors.
Beverley can fill that defensive hole that was created by trading Lonzo Ball, and along with the right signing, can create a solid defensive backcourt to help neutralize other contending Western Conference teams with solid scoring backcourts, such as the Portland Trailblazers and Houston Rockets.
Beverley is no slouch scoring the basketball when needed, either, and can slot in nicely as the fourth or even fifth scoring option in the starting rotation. Ten a game is all the Lakers would really need out of Beverley, which is right around his career average.
He does not take a lot of shots but has shot 39.4 percent from beyond the arc over the last four years, indicating he can make his shots when needed.
Next. Lakers nailed the package for AD. dark
Bring in a true sharpshooter at the two-guard that can take the bulk of the backcourt shots and the Los Angeles Lakers would be in business. Signing Patrick Beverley simply is too smart of a signing to miss for Rob Pelinka and co.