:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64296139/usa_today_11911224.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a point guard, and they plan on exhausting all of their options. After reaching out to D’Angelo Russell’s camp about a meeting on Saturday, they also started the process of setting up a meeting with veteran point guard Patrick Beverley, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times:
Sources: The Lakers have reached out to the reps of free agent guard Patrick Beverley. Beverley is one of the best defenders in the NBA and his 3-point shooting has improved dramatically. He’s also a great locker room presence.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 29, 2019
The two time All-Defensive Teamer played in Los Angeles with the Clippers this past season, for whom he shot 39.7 percent from behind the arc on 3.6 attempts per game. In the season prior, he tied his career-high 3-point percentage (40 percent) on 5.5 3-point attempts per game.
His combination of defense and shooting will make him a commodity in a market with few surefire starting point guards. In other words, he’s not going to be cheap.
On Thursday, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported that the 30-year-old point guard is seeking a three-year deal worth $40 million. That means Beverley will only be an option for the Lakers if they strike out on Kawhi Leonard.
In theory, they could sign both D’Angelo Russell and Beverley, but it would require both Russell and Beverley taking paycuts and one of them coming off of the bench. Is it possible? Yes. Is it realistic? Probably not.
So, if the Lakers sign Beverley, it’s likely because they missed out on both Leonard and Russell and are trying to fill out their bench with solid role players. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the team would split their cap space among multiple players if they couldn’t sign Leonard or Kyrie Irving, who is expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. Beverley would be one of those players.
While it might not be the dream offseason Lakers fans hoped for, Beverley, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Davis and a few solid veterans is still a championship contender, making this good news, even if the front office probably has higher priorities for now.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Here is a list of every free agent credibly connected to the Lakers so far.