The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic came together for an interesting swap of assets ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Orlando sent former first-round pick Mo Bamba to Los Angeles, while the Lakers sent back veteran guard Patrick Beverley. The Magic also fetched additional second-round draft compensation and cash considerations, in addition to Beverley. NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported the trade details.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium,” Charania tweeted.
The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023
“It’s unlikely Patrick Beverley will play for the Magic, sources told @orlandosports,” Orlando Magic beat writer Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel tweeted.
It's unlikely Patrick Beverley will play for the Magic, sources told @orlandosports. https://t.co/EZdujfxKHe
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) February 9, 2023
Price’s reporting indicates that Beverley will be a likely buy-out candidate, who will be able to sign with a championship-contending team following Thursday’s trade deadline.
As the Lakers continue to rework their frontcourt, they add a piece in Bamba, who can add a major presence to Los Angeles’ frontline, along with Anthony Davis and LeBron James. In 40 games this season, Bamba has averaged 7.3 points/per game, while shooting 39.8% from beyond the arc.
The NBA recently suspended Bamba for four games after being a central figure in a brawl that led to five ejections.
As for Beverley, the trade couldn’t come as more of a surprise when considering his reaction to the Lakers requiring D’Angelo Russell in a three-team trade on Wednesday. Beverley, who is known for his defensive acumen, is averaging 6.4 points/per game on the season.
The gang is Back❤️ https://t.co/LCxJY1GfDI
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) February 9, 2023
The NBA world had plenty to say about this interesting trade.
The Lakers will reduce their luxury tax penalty from $45M to $36.4M by swapping Patrick Beverley for Mo Bamba (deleted previous tweet with typo).
They also generate a $2.7M trade exception. They generated three others worth $2.3M, $1.8M, and $1.8M in trades today. https://t.co/uM1hh8FVRw
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 9, 2023
Patrick Beverley will always have this moment as a Laker 😂 pic.twitter.com/JInrRWWx4R
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 9, 2023
Patrick Beverley getting passed around the whole league: https://t.co/h7YNA1MdB3 pic.twitter.com/9d4v8avyoP
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) February 9, 2023
Shams beating Woj on announcing Patrick Beverly being traded after this tweet from Pat Bev is hilarious. https://t.co/HJqN1niuIL pic.twitter.com/MBlOL02tXi
— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) February 9, 2023
Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley seeing each other in the buyout market pic.twitter.com/eIotLjn3Kb
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 9, 2023
The Lakers’ remade frontline of Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba and Wenyen Gabriel is long, athletic and versatile. Add in the 3PT shooting upgrade with Malik Beasley and D’Angelo Russell and the Lakers have a dramatically better roster.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 9, 2023
MO BAMBA IS FREE!!! https://t.co/wCYbazgLfh
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 9, 2023
Mo Bamba is shooting 50/40% this season.
He now is the Laker’s first and only 50/40% shooter this season. pic.twitter.com/ELmLtNTDuH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2023
