Lakers trade Patrick Beverley to Magic for Mo Bamba, acquire Davon Reed
The Lakers traded guard Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba on Thursday, the team announced.
The Lakers view Bamba as a quality backup big man they need in the wake of trading backup center Thomas Bryant to the Denver Nuggets for Davon Reed and three second-round draft picks.
Bamba, 24, gives the Lakers a 7-footer who is a solid three-point shooter, having made 39.8% from deep in 40 games with the Magic, including six starts.
He was averaging 7.3 points on 49.5% shooting and 4.6 rebounds.
Bryant starred as a fill-in for Anthony Davis while the All-Star forward was recovering from foot injuries. Bryant is averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, far outplaying the one-year minimum deal he signed this offseason. It’s why, sources said, the Lakers began to find Bryant a new home while getting needed draft picks in return.
The team was also looking to find more minutes for Wenyen Gabriel as a backup center in smaller lineups. LeBron James and newly acquired Jarred Vanderbilt also give them small-ball center options.
The Lakers sent Russell Westbrook to Utah as part of a three-team trade in which they acquired D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota and Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz.
The Lakers will receive second-round picks in 2025, 2026 and 2029.
The team, according to people with knowledge of the situation, will be active in the free-agent and buyout markets as it tries to add a bulkier center after it traded Damian Jones in a three-team deal Wednesday that landed point guard D’Angelo Russell, guard Malik Beasley and Vanderbilt.
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