The Memphis Grizzlies continue to make moves.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies are trading Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 17, 2021
The Grizzlies acquired Beverley in addition to Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu from the LA Clippers for Eric Bledsoe the day prior to Wojnarowski's report.
In four seasons with the Clippers, Beverley averaged 8.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals over 177 games (144 starts). He earned the second All-Defensive Second Team selection of his career in 2019-20.
The No. 6 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Culver averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in his two seasons with the Timberwolves.
Hernangomez averaged a career-best 7.2 points per game on .435/.327/.619 shooting splits in 2020-21.
NBA.com Staff reactions
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles): First reaction is this trade makes sense for both sides.
Need you be reminded, the Timberwolves ranked 28th in defensive efficiency last season. Beverley has battled injuries over the last few seasons, but if he can stay healthy, he will bring some much-needed toughness and versatility on that end of the court.
For the Grizzlies, they continue to add talent. Culver hasn't lived up to the hype of being the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — not yet, anyway — but he was billed as one of the more versatile wings in his class. If he can get back on track in Memphis, he'd fit in perfectly with what the Grizzlies are building.
Hernangomez, meanwhile, will be a nice addition to their frontcourt depth. The Grizzlies were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season, so his shooting could come in handy.
Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21): What a week it's been for Beverley, who has been traded twice in the past 48 hours, but it feels like Minnesota is his final destination.
It's not the kind of move I could have predicted, but I think I like what each team is trying to do here.
The Timberwolves have a lot of guards, but, as Scott alluded to, they're mostly known for what they can do offensively. Adding a defensive-minded guard in Beverley to a roster that features scorers in Malik Beasley, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell makes a lot of sense. Parting ways with another scoring guard in Culver to do so makes even more sense.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies get a 22-year-old former lottery pick who needed a change of scenery as he was seemingly the odd man out in a crowded backcourt. A very talented scorer, Culver has an opportunity to grow alongside a roster on a very similar developmental timeline.
And again, echoing Scott, Hernangomez is an addition that shouldn't be overlooked as a 6-foot-9 forward who shoots 35.1 percent from deep for his career.
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