With the NBA All-Star break over, Lakers fans are eager to see how LeBron James and Luka Doncic perform together. Head coach JJ Redick’s squad showed promise before the break, and as the postseason nears, the team still has room to improve—especially through free agency. If general manager Rob Pelinka is considering roster moves, one ex-Laker is openly campaigning for a return.
Patrick Beverley Wants to Rejoin the Lakers
On his latest podcast episode, veteran guard Patrick Beverley had high praise for the Lakers’ current roster, particularly two key role players.
“You look around the NBA, (Austin Reaves) might be the best third option,” Beverley said. “(Rui Hachimura) might be the best fourth option in the NBA… I know we gave the Lakers a lot of criticism in the past and we were just being honest, but the moves Rob Pelinka has made and Jeanie Buss has made have put the Lakers right up there, top-notch, when it comes to the quest to win a title.”
While Beverley didn’t explicitly ask for a contract, his admiration for the team strongly hints at his interest in returning.
The Chicago native has history with the Lakers. Originally drafted by the team in 2009 (42nd overall), he was traded to the Miami Heat the next day. After a decade in the NBA, he returned to L.A. in 2022 as part of a deal that sent Stanley Johnson and Talen Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz. However, his time with the Lakers was short-lived—he was traded before the 2023 deadline and went on to play for the Bulls, 76ers, and Bucks before joining Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2024-25 season.
His overseas stint ended abruptly when Tel Aviv suspended him following a dispute with head coach Dimitris Itoudis. His contract was soon terminated, and he finished his time in Israel averaging 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and .492/.405/.750 splits across nine IBSL games.
Though Beverley isn’t a major offensive threat at this stage of his career, he remains a strong defender who brings energy and toughness—valuable traits for teams looking to solidify their playoff push. With Cam Reddish potentially on the chopping block, the Lakers could consider swapping him for Beverley, who still offers reliable defense and three-point shooting. A short-term deal would carry little risk for L.A.
It remains uncertain whether Beverley’s return would significantly impact the Lakers’ championship hopes. As of now, they hold the sixth-best odds (+1800) to win the 2024-25 NBA Finals, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
