Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker has become a trade target for as many as seven teams, Jordan Schultz of Schultz Report tweets. However, the Lakers are reluctant to move one of their few young talents, so their asking price is high, Schultz adds.
The 21-year-old Horton-Tucker is averaging a career-best 11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 2.9 APG and is coming off a 19-point, six-steal performance against Orlando. His season debut was delayed due to thumb surgery but he has become a major part of the rotation, averaging 29 MPG this month.
The 6’4” shooting guard in the first year of a three-year, $30.8MM deal and can’t be traded until January 15 after signing the new contract as a restricted free agent in August.
His $9.5MM salary this season makes him one of just two Lakers earning between the minimum and maximum. That could make him a necessary trade chip if the Lakers wants to make a win-now splash for a non-max player.
The Lakers are reportedly interested in the Pistons’ Jerami Grant, who’s making $20MM this season, and Horton-Tucker’s salary would likely be an essential component for Los Angeles to acquire Grant or a player with a similar contract.
I’d target Lakers 2027 first round pick.
LeBron does not need this pick.
No way THT moves the needle enough for Grant
Maybe Buddy from Sac w Nunn and a 1st thrown in but this just feels like a plant article coming from LA
Tht can’t shoot, doesn’t facilitate, doesn’t board and his defense hasn’t improved at all since coming into the league
** Id also want to check the hospital records on the DOB, dude looks 34 going on 23 already !! J/k
You are drastically underestimating Horton-Tucker, who has a ton of talent and just turned 21 less than 3 weeks ago. There is a reason other teams want him, and it isn’t just his salary.
Im not saying your wrong but would you care to elaborate where you see the talent?
What in his game makes you feel comfortable moving forward? What stands out?
Another overhyped Laker
While I agree in this instance I think your way off in the grand scheme of things
Kuzma, Caruso, Nance, Thomas Bryant, Zubac, Ingram, Lonzo, Russell and Randle and now Reeves have all had fantastic results from the last 8 Lakers drafts – Most were probably severely underrated when here and took off upon departure
There hasnt been a team thats done better with 1st rders, 2nd rders, and UDFA’s the last decade. You can still hate LA and be logical !
Forgot jordon clarkson in that list. 2nd round pick
Indeed probably a couple more too, nice catch
I wouldn’t trade Tucker straight up for Grant.. if they give up on him they are even dumber then their off-season moves… pathetic
It also makes the off-season moves worse. He is making $9.5 million a season and Grant is making $20 million. If they are find adding over $10 million more in payroll then why not just resign Caruso? Caruso is making $9.245 million which was too expensive for them but now they will add $10.5 million?
You can’t just add that money. Salaries have to match in nba trades during the season
He is 21.. only an idiot team on an already ancient roster traded their 21 year old future possibly star for marginally better player currently .. dumb dumb dumb.. let sticker start already
Nothing screams Star from Tht in todays current NBA
NOW is a lot more important than Later for this team
If they can get a better fit for the next 1.5 yrs Id love for them to pull the string today
Where’s the money coming from on LA’s side. 9 from THT, 5 from Nunn, then what? Add in a few minimums? I like THT, and see a lot of potential. He’s like Marcus Smart but on offense. Crazy when he’s on and will make some dumb dumb plays. I think his shooting will get better. His handling has improved a little. He’s good inside 18-20ft and creative finisher.
THT Nunn and DJ for Hield would qualify for Buddy on a match
Hield wouldn’t be my first choice but theres going to be a lot more buyers than sellers (and Lakers surely dont have great assets ) so you take what you can get really –
Id prefer a defensive wing but those just arent avail for what we have
Only Pelinka.
That dude is on a mission to trade away every laker draft pick and young player until he’s fired.
One things that’s not mentioned above is THT has an opt out for 23/24. So if he balls your only getting the 1.5 yrs from him
For a team like Orl 22′ is already sunk thus making the only potential value in the contract for next year.
Those teams will generally want more service time left
In 1.5 years Lebron will be 38, Westbrook will be 35, and Anthony Davis will be 30. They pretty much traded away and gave swaps to all their picks through then and will need more and more young blood. It’s worth resigning him then.
I disagree, he’ll be gunning for a 16-20 AAV next contract- The form on the jumper is pretty bad, he’s running uphill as is in the current NBA and nothing stands out on the defense, passing, or rebounding
Your getting a flashy player who might give the fans some entertainment value but not move the needle on the court all while burdening the ledger
The old win now splash. The LAL have 3 max players who are household names; that’s sufficient splashing. At this point, the pool has very little water left. They should forget about further splashing and ration the water that’s left to put the best possible group of veteran role players and young legs around those 3 for this year and next. If teams are really that interested in THT, then, great, go get that value and reinvest in the upgrading of that group. Detailing is boring, but its salary cap / luxury tax league and it constitutes the only real moves they have left.
Even a leaky faucet splashes a little water
I know it’s crazy but I’d rather see THT for Heild
Lakers desperately need the shooting.
They would have a really nice 5 closing games with Russ Heild Melo Bron and AD
True, the Lakers need shooting, but they might need defense even more. Honestly, as a stones fan, I hope they hold out for something more. That is a solid player, but I think they can do better. IMO!
Grant isn’t enough to want to trade away the future for. Ariza will start playing soon and Grant if just a younger Melo.
What future is that. The window is Closed. This is the last yr Lakers contend for a long time.
Exactly THT and a broken AD isn’t much of a future considering they have also given up a bunch of picks.
The window they have to win is now while they have LeBron.
Can THT be traded b4 deadline feb 10.. on trade machine sats bc he signed salary increase he cant be traded til after mar 3. 2022. Any insighrs?
He becomes trade-eligible on January 15.
March 3 was the trade-eligibility date LAST season that was equivalent to Jan. 15 for players like THT (because the season didn’t start until December). The trade machine may not have been updated to revert that date back to Jan. 15 for this season.