76ers trade Beverley to Bucks for Payne
The Philadelphia 76ers traded veteran guard Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks for Cameron Payne and a 2027 second-round pick, the teams announced Thursday.
Beverley confirmed the move on his podcast's X account minutes before ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news, providing a fun wrinkle to trade-deadline day.
BREAKING: @patbev21 to the Milwaukee Bucks
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) February 8, 2024
In the 35-year-old Beverley, Milwaukee is getting one of the league's most well-known pests at the point guard position. Though he's averaging just 6.3 points per game in what was his first season in Philadelphia, his defense and leadership will play a role for the championship-contending Bucks.
After news of the trade, Beverley hopped on his podcast and called Bucks guard Malik Beasley, his former teammate on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Referring to past issues with Milwaukee superstar Damian Lillard, Beverley said he has to get his "relationship right with Dame. Time to win a championship."
Lillard and Beverley have occasionally squabbled over their lengthy careers, mostly on social media. However, Lillard told TNT's Chris Haynes on Thursday that he looks "forward to working" with Beverley and that "personal issues don't trump an opportunity to win a championship."
Meanwhile, Payne played 14.9 minutes per game in 47 appearances for the Bucks, averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, his lowest totals since the 2016-17 season.