Lakers acquire Mo Bamba from Magic for Patrick Beverley, second-round pick compensation

Lakers acquire Mo Bamba from Magic for Patrick Beverley, second-round pick compensation

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic for Patrick Beverley and second-round pick compensation, Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported Thursday afternoon.

Sources said the Lakers are sending second-round draft compensation with Patrick Beverley to Orlando for Mo Bamba — a major get for a reworked frontline around Anthony Davis and LeBron James. https://t.co/ZEqa6M4b4R

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023

The current second-round compensation is unknown. Bamba’s current cap hit is $10.3 million with a non-guaranteed 10.3 million deal for next season; Beverley’s $13 million salary is an expiring, so he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, per Spotrac.

According to NBA Salary Cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Lakers save nearly $9 million in luxury tax dollars for the swap, while also generating a miniscule $2.7 million trade exception along with the pair of $1.8 million trade exceptions they’ve created already this deadline.

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

Los Angeles, the smallest team in basketball before the Rui Hachimura trade mere weeks ago, continue to bolster their frontcourt help behind Anthony Davis by the additions of Jarred Vanderbilt (who can play small-ball five) and now Bamba, who’s been out of the Magic rotation of late and is currently serving a suspension for the Austin Rivers fight.

Bamba also helps the Lakers’ long-distance shooting. He’s averaging 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and one block across 40 games, shooting 49.5 percent, including a career-best 39.8 percent from 3-point range (on 2.7 attempts). According to Cleaning The Glass, he ranks in the 89th percentile among all bigs in 3-point shooting efficiency (83rd percentile from above-the-break). In 45 games with the Lakers, Beverley’s posted averages of 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists on 40.2/34.8/78.0 shooting splits.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Beverley isn’t expected to remain with the Magic and will likely be a buyout candidate. He is also expected to receive plenty of interest from playoff teams, such as possibly the Miami Heat, among others. If he were to officially be bought out, he would join Russell Westbrook, John Wall and Reggie Jackson as veteran point guard buyout options.

Orlando is trading Mo Bamba to the Lakers for Patrick Beverley, a future second-rounder and cash considerations, per source. Beverley is not expected to remain with Magic.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 9, 2023

“The Heat now will pursue players in the buyout market, with John Wall, Russell Westbrook Reggie Jackson and Patrick Beverley among those expected to be available.“

– @flasportsbuzz pic.twitter.com/HR4MikQvyA

— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCom) February 9, 2023

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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