Two Eastern Conference contenders, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, are reportedly swapping backup guards. According to various sources, the 76ers traded guard Patrick Beverley to the Bucks for Cameron Payne and a second-round pick.
Milwaukee Bucks obtain: Patrick Beverley.
Philadelphia 76ers obtain: Cameron Payne.
2027 second-round selection
What does the trade imply for Bucks? Milwaukee’s largest upheaval occurred at the end of January, when it fired coach Adrian Griffin and hired Doc Rivers to replace him. Before the deal, the Bucks (33-18) were among the Eastern Conference’s leaders, with the No. 3 seed.
He will serve as the No. 1 backup to All-Star guard Damian Lillard as Milwaukee looks to reduce the distance on the East-leading Boston Celtics (39-12) and the No. 2-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (33-16).
Beverley’s Resume: The veteran guard is noted for his fiery play, hard-charging defense, and an aggressive style that has irritated many opponents. This season, he averages 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 43.2% (his best percentage since 2015-16). Beverley’s transfer to Milwaukee will be his sixth team in the last four seasons.
What the transaction means for the 76ers: According to reports, Philadelphia agreed to a trade with the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield, making the first splash of trade deadline day. Following the trade of Beverley, Philadelphia will have a good, veteran backup in Payne.
Payne’s Resume: After four seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Payne signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason. He was a vital player for the Suns’ 2021 NBA Finals team as Chris Paul’s primary backup, and he has established himself as one of the NBA’s best reserve point guards.
This season, Payne averages 6.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.5% overall and 39.7% from three.
