NBA Rumors: LA Lakers might end up trading summer acquisition Patrick Beverley

The LA Lakers have featured in more NBA rumors as of late. With an emphasis upon their outlook for trading, The Athletic's Jovan Buha recently suggested that the Lakers may consider trading Patrick Beverley.

The Purple and Gold have featured in several trade rumors over the course of the offseason and the regular season. While most of these rumors have portrayed Russell Westbrook as the primary trade piece, the Lakers have considered other options as well.

Given the team's inconsistent performances on the court, the Lakers will be forced to make a trade at some point to ensure a better chance of winning going forward.

In this regard, recent rumors have already suggested that the front office is targeting mid-December to begin trading players they signed in free agency.

While Westbrook continues to be a renowned figure in trade talks, the Purple and Gold have indicated some desire to play out the season with him. However, this is dependent on his sustained reliability as a contributing factor off the bench.

This inevitably raises questions regarding who else the Lakers would be willing to move. To answer this, Jovan Buha recently reported on a few names on the roster who may be up for trade following Dec. 15.

The name that stuck out in his article was Lakers guard Patrick Beverley. Buha elaborated upon this notion when he wrote:

"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 a 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 percent on 3s."

He continued:

"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."

Buha raised some valid points when mentioning Patrick Beverley as a figure in potential trades for the LA Lakers. Since acquiring the guard in the offseason, Beverley hasn't made a lot of noise on the offensive front.

Notching just 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, Beverley hasn't garnered a lot of attention for his offense. While he continues to be a solid defensive presence and a leader in the locker room, the LA Lakers haven't benefitted as much from trading for the veteran guard.

---

Trading Patrick Beverley could be beneficial for the LA Lakers

As mentioned earlier, Patrick Beverley has been a less than noteworthy contributor in the LA Lakers' efforts this season. Shooting horrendously from beyond the arc and having very little impact on offense, Beverley is a practical non-factor for the team in most cases.

With a 7-12 record following their loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Lakeshow are undoubtedly in a predicament. Given the Lakers' current situation, the team can't afford to feature players who aren't contributing on the offensive front.

While there is an argument to be made for intangible contributions such as loyalty, leadership and defense, Beverley hasn't been very impressive in a Lakers uniform. In this regard, the team may be best served by trading him.

Given that young teams could benefit from veteran leadership, the Purple and Gold could pursue trades to gain some young talent without giving up draft picks. With a blockbuster trade still on the cards, the LA Lakers will remain patient.