Just before the NBA trade deadline passed, the Philadelphia 76ers made a deal that many thought was stunning. They traded Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard Cam Payne and a second-round selection.

Beverley, who joined with the Sixers in free agency, had been a major element of the supporting cast. Along with giving veteran vocal leadership, he brought intensity to the floor. Most notably, on the defensive end.

Since this exchange became official, many people have chimed in with their thoughts. Among those to do so was Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson. The LA Lakers point guard feels Beverley will address a significant area of need for the Bucks.

The Bucks took a step backwards defensively this offseason when they parted ways with Jrue Holiday to pursue Damian Lillard. Now, they are adding a three-time All-Defense guard to their squad. This move can draw analogies to when they acquired P.J. Tucker at the deadline in 2021 en route to capturing a title.

Milwaukee is going through some growing pains at the moment after their head coaching change. Despite this, they still occupy one of the top slots in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks are currently in third place with a record of 33-19. Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers went ahead of them but only had a two-game advantage.

Led by Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are finally going to figure things out. Seeing that he’s established a career of winning outside the box, Beverley has a strong opportunity to be an X-factor for his new squad.