LA Lakers Rumors Roundup: Team might end up trading Patrick Beverley, star players believe Purple and Gold are only a couple of pieces away from contending and more
The LA Lakers reportedly might end up trading away veteran guard Patrick Beverley following his disappointing start with the team.
In other news, the Lakers' star players believe the team is only a couple of pieces away from being able to contend.
On that note, here are the latest rumors surrounding the LA Lakers as of Nov. 29, 2022.
LA Lakers might end up trading Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley was one of the LA Lakers' biggest offseason acquisitions as a tough, gritty, defensive-minded veteran with vast playoff experience. Beverley's poor fit offensively with the team so far has already led to speculation that the Lakers could soon move on from him.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Beverley will be a player to watch on the trade market after Dec. 15 when he becomes trade eligible:
“The other benefit of waiting until at least Dec. 15 to make a move is that the Lakers can trade players they signed in free agency.
“One name to watch is Patrick Beverley, who’s the fourth-highest-paid player on the team at $13 million. Beverley is still an elite defender and one of the group’s vocal leaders, but he’s averaging a career-low 4.1 points per game and shooting a career-worst 23.8% on 3s."
Buha added:
“Beverley, like Kendrick Nunn, could still have value on teams looking for veteran backcourt help. The Lakers’ needs and glut of guards make both expendable.”
Dec. 15. is the first day that free agents who were signed in the offseason can be traded.
It’s also the day the Lakers are targeting to begin exploring roster upgrades via trade, sources tell @jovanbuha.
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Beverley is averaging just 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals through 14 games. He is also shooting just 26.6%, including 23.8% from beyond the arc. Beverley will likely need to pick up his play between now and Dec. 15 if he hopes to remain in LA.
For more on the possibility of a Patrick Beverley trade, click here.
Lakers' star players believe the team is only a couple of players away from contending
The Lakers are just 7-12 and 13th in the Western Conference following their Monday night loss to the Indiana Pacers. However, the Lakers’ star players are reportedly remaining optimistic about the team’s title chances. According to a recent report from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Lakers players believe the team is only a couple of players away from contending.
“There is belief shared by leaders in the Lakers’ locker room that the team is only a couple of players away from turning this group into a legitimate contender," McMenamin said. "But acquiring the right players could take multiple trades."
LA Lakers may keep Russell Westbrook all season
It remains to be seen whether the Lakers front office is serious about making some trades to make their roster more competitive. But if they do, it looks like there is an increasing chance that point guard Russell Westbrook will not be involved in any potential deals.
Executives around the NBA reportedly believe that the Lakers will now keep Westbrook if he keeps excelling in his sixth-man role. The report comes via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. He wrote:
“While some combination of Rob Pelinka, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield has been trending topics on Twitter after each Lakers loss, many rival executives believe acquiring both players won’t make Los Angeles a contender in the West.
“Some executives believe the Lakers will stand pat and ride out the Westbrook experiment if he continues to produce off the bench."
Westbrook is averaging 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 42.7% in 15 games off the bench. The Lakers are 7-8 in those games. In contrast, the Lakers are 0-3 in the games that Westbrook has started in this season.
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