Patrick Beverley Traded to Bucks; 76ers Reportedly Land Cam Payne, 2nd-Round Pick

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Patrick Beverley is on the move for the fourth time in the last two seasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trading Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Cameron Payne and a second-round pick, according to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania.

Beverley had been an effective member of Philadelphia’s rotation in his first season with the franchise.

Through 47 games, the three-time All-Defensive player was averaging 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from deep.

Beverley will be a much more valuable asset for the Bucks given his ability to defend.

While the Bucks sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 33-18 record thanks in part to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, they boast one of the worst defenses in the NBA and were in desperate need of some help on that end of the floor.

Milwaukee ranks 18th in the league in defensive rating (116.3), even after parting ways with Adrian Griffin and hiring Doc Rivers as head coach. The team is also 1-4 since Rivers took over.

As for the Sixers, they had the ability to move a guard after reportedly acquiring Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in exchange for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and three second-round picks.

Hield figures to slot into the starting lineup alongside Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt, and Payne will sit behind them on the depth chart.

Payne was in his first season with the Bucks following a four-year career with the Phoenix Suns. The 29-year-old averaged 6.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 47 games with Milwaukee while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent from deep.

This could prove to be a swap that works out for both sides as the Bucks were seeking more defense and the 76ers had been in the market for more efficient three-point shooters.

However, the Sixers still face an uphill battle through the remainder of the regular season with star big man Joel Embiid sidelined for an extended period following knee surgery.

Philadelphia sits fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 30-20 record, but the team is 1-3 in its last four games without Embiid. The Sixers are 4-12 on the season without the reigning MVP in the lineup.