Insightful Update: Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Explains the True Motive for Trading Patrick Beverley to the Philadelphia 76ers

Unlike other contending teams in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t pursue a big name before the trade deadline expired. Instead, the front office went for Patrick Beverley to help the team get a higher seed before the regular season ends.

Late last year, the New York Knicks made the first big splash by acquiring OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors for a packaged headlined by RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. The Indiana Pacers went big too by getting Pascal Siakam while the Miami Heat went for Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets,

On the Bucks’ side, the team decided to go for Patrick Beverley by trading Cameron Payne and a second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. This development comes after the front office fired Adrian Griffin and hired Doc Rivers as the team’s head coach.

General Manager Jon Horst Reveals Why the Milwaukee Bucks Traded For Patrick Beverley

Days after the NBA trade deadline, general manager explained the logic behind the Beverley trade. In an article written by Eric Nehm for The Athletic:

“We talked about, as we always do, trying to identify pillars going into this thing and ways that we will work to try to generate options and opportunities to improve. Without getting into all our pillars, in specific, the ones that (Beverley) addresses, we believe, are point-of-attack defense and defensive versatility.

He’s proven to be able to guard multiple positions in his career. He is an impactful point-of-attack defender. He plays with a physicality and a toughness that we think will help us. I think it’s just kind of another player to add to the mix that plays with that physicality and toughness we really think could help us. He’s obviously a capable scorer and shot-maker, and he’s got a ton of experience. Excited to have him,” Horst said.

Horst’s reason aligns with the Bucks’ need to improve from a defensive perspective. At one point, even Rivers described the team’s defense as awful after an ugly loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

As seen in Milwaukee’s recent win over the Charlotte Hornets, Beverley brings a sense of grit to the Bucks’ defense. His addition to the roster is expected to play out well, especially with the postseason coming around soon.