Russell Westbrook attends Patrick Beverley's introductory press conference with Lakers
Source: Twitter @NotoriousOHM
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Mike Trudell @LakersReporterHam said that Westbrook and Beverley could definitely start together “If they play defense.” But nothing has been decided yet. He cited good workouts of late from Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reaves, and said there will be real competition for jobs. – 4:08 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaDarvin Ham on if Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley can start together: “If they play defense. If they play defense. Definitely.” – 4:08 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMPatrick Beverley says the Lakers will be a “matchup” problem all over but that the Lakers have to get to the playoffs to take advantage of those matchups. – 4:08 PM
Mike Bresnahan @Mike_BresnahanMore Beverley on playing with Westbrook: “I haven’t had an explosive guard like Russ to play with defensively and offensively.”
He also said they attack different areas on the court, i.e. Beverley likes corner 3s from the right side and Russ likes posting up on the left. – 4:08 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporterHam said Beverley will say what’s needed to be said to the big guns and the young guys. Accountability he brings is key. – 4:07 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMDarvin Ham says he absolutely believes Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook will work beautifully and Ham loves adding Pat Bev’s attitude and personality. – 4:06 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporterPatrick Beverley summarizing his outlook: “I just like to win.” – 4:05 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMPatrick Beverley believes he and Russell Westbrook will be a backcourt to be reckoned with. He says he’s long wanted to play with Russ. Pat Bev was sweating from a workout during his presser and Russ tossed him a towel. Pat called it the “first dime” of the season from Russ. – 4:05 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaDarvin Ham says Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley will work together “fabulously.” He thinks they complement each other well and wouldn’t want to be an opposing backcourt facing them. – 4:05 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporterDarvin Ham on Patrick Beverley: “I think he’s going to be a lovely addition to our ball club and a great tone setter … you heard him mention the grit, the grind, just being a dog out there.” – 4:03 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaPat Beverley and Russell Westbrook greeting each other after Pat’s press conference pic.twitter.com/p02AC9O1kh – 4:03 PM
Mike Bresnahan @Mike_BresnahanBeverley said he was “super excited” to be a teammate of Russell Westbrook.
Said he admired Westbrook’s grit on the court and thinks they can play off each other well on the court.
Westbrook, btw, is here in attendance at Beverley’s introductory press conference. – 3:59 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaPatrick Beverley says he’s excited to play with Russell Westbrook. He thinks the two complement each other well and will fit. He says he’s never played with someone who has the same grit and toughness as him. He also acknowledged they’ll have tough conversations at some point. – 3:56 PM
Mike Bresnahan @Mike_BresnahanIs Pat Beverley the type of player you hate playing against but love having on your team?
“I don’t know. I haven’t been my teammate,” he said at his introductory press conference. “I gusss that’s what people say. If you’ve been around me, you know I’m all about winning.” – 3:55 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMRussell Westbrook and Darvin Ham have come in to watch and listen to Patrick Beverley’s introductory press conference. pic.twitter.com/TKioCFVoPO – 3:51 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaPatrick Beverley is now addressing the media pic.twitter.com/Hg2GmoqjYM – 3:51 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMRussell Westbrook is here inside the Lakers facility as reporters wait in another room for the Patrick Beverley press conference to start. – 3:31 PM
Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwansonWaiting for Pat Bev’s official introduction as a Laker. FWIW to you, his teammate Russell Westbrook is in the building today too. pic.twitter.com/Ui3UMDpFT1 – 3:31 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaPatrick Beverley and Darvin Ham will be addressing the media in a few minutes. pic.twitter.com/JQ2pRmawOG – 2:24 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersMonday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Are the Lakers running out of potential trade options for Westbrook. Plus, why everyone needs to accept the idea that no trade exists which makes the Lakers a frontrunner. #FirstListen @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are… – 10:45 AM
Eric Walden @tribjazzA year ago, the Lakers wouldn’t include Talen Horton-Tucker in a deal to get Kyle Lowry. This year, he got traded for Patrick Beverley. Why the change? And what did the Utah Jazz see in THT to warrant making him a part of their rebuild? sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 9:37 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalkWestbrook reportedly to attend LeBron-run preseason mini-camp, be with Lakers to open camp nba.nbcsports.com/2022/09/05/wes… – 8:35 PM
More on this storyline
Jovan Buha: Patrick Beverley on going from playing for the Clippers to the Lakers: “Very different. Night and day. Walking around the city, you almost get a different respect.” -via Twitter @jovanbuha / September 6, 2022 The Lakers’ LeBron James typically hosts a players-only minicamp somewhere on the West Coast before training camp starts, so stay tuned. Word is that another Lakers minicamp is likely in coming days and that Russell Westbrook would indeed attend if it comes together. Any sort of pre-camp gathering involving LeBron and his fellow purple-and-gold vets would represent a key step in the Lakers’ efforts to move past all the tension that bubbled throughout last season’s rocky 33-49 campaign, bringing James and Anthony Davis together with Westbrook and the newly acquired Patrick Beverley before the Lakers report for their first practices under new coach Darvin Ham on Sept. 26. -via marcstein.substack.com / September 5, 2022 Michael Scotto: It seems like the best trade the Lakers can make if they want to move Russell Westbrook and try to win this season is with Indiana for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. One note that’s interesting is before the Lakers traded Talen Horton-Tucker to Utah in the Patrick Beverley trade, the Pacers were trying to get Horton-Tucker, I’m told. Essentially, Indiana was hoping to get Westbrook’s expiring contract, the Lakers’ two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, along with Horton-Tucker for Turner, Hield and they wanted to make LA take Daniel Theis, who has some years looking ahead on his contract. Theis is more of a fit on a playoff-caliber team as we saw with the Celtics previously. The Lakers weren’t trying to essentially part with THT for Theis in that expanded trade package discussion after already having reservations about moving two first-round picks to get off Westbrook’s contract. In talking with people around the league, anybody that’s taking on Westbrook wants both of those first-round picks. -via HoopsHype / August 31, 2022 In the wake of further reporting on Westbrook in my previous This Week In Basketball compendium, two well-placed sources have expressed to me with even greater conviction that the Lakers lean very strongly against the concept of sending Westbrook home a la John Wall in Houston last season in the event that they can’t find a trade for him. Sources maintain that Ham is determined to establish a real role for Westbrook if he remains a Laker. -via marcstein.substack.com / September 5, 2022 Jeff Zilgitt: There will be some chatter about a Westbrook/first-rounder for Conley, but Conley’s deal is through 2023-24, albeit partially guaranteed. Clarkson has player option for 2023-24. -via Twitter @JeffZillgitt / September 2, 2022