NBA Rumors: Lakers' Coach Has Very Intriguing Lineup Planned

While rumors abound about where Russell Westbrook will ultimately wind up this coming season, the Los Angeles Lakers are apparently gearing up to have both Westbrook and newly-acquired Patrick Beverley—who share a long-standing beef with each other—play alongside each other.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham will play Pat Bev and Russ side-by-side, and the players have already connected, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/N3Y2PFexH9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 31, 2022

Lakers new head coach Darvin Ham, has, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein, already told the two that he has plans to play them in the same backcourt, on the floor at the same time. This could get interesting... and possibly very volatile.

Both are point guards, but each brings something entirely different (at opposite extremes, one would say) to the floor. Westbrook can still distribute the ball well enough (though it's fair to question his play-calling decisions last season), but is no longer even worth guarding from the outside. He also isn't exactly a defensive demon, to say the least.

Beverley has never been the best floor-general, averaging just 3.5 assists in his career, but plays dogged, hounding, under-your-skin defense, and can shoot it from three, averaging around 39% in four of the last five seasons.

Pat Bev has already spoken up about his impending new partnership.

“We excited and we hungry. Watch us work.”

Patrick Beverley’s response to Darvin Ham’s report that he [Beverley] and Westbrook have already connected & will play side-by-side, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/pi3GMRkzNF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) August 31, 2022