11. Talen Horton-Tucker
I really like Talen Horton-Tucker’s potential in the future and I really do think that he could turn out to be a legitimate NBA rotation guy. That would be a massive win for someone taken in the second round and if there is any team that is an example of turning late picks into rotation players it is the Lakers.
However, I cannot let that potential cloud my judgment and rank him any higher than 11th on this list. The fact of the matter is that he is not going to get a ton of minutes in year two, although he should see an increase with the guards that have left the team.
I would expect THT to get around what Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook got last year — 11 minutes per game. That should allow him enough playing time to legitimately aid his progression in the league without forcing him to be too big of a role player right away.
Horton-Tucker is still only 21 years old and the Lakers can afford to be patient with the young guard. By the time next season rolls around, if he progresses as I think he could, THT could very well be someone who is getting 15-20 minutes per game.
He is a versatile ballhandler on the offensive side of the court with legitimate length and defensive potential. We will start to see some of that in 2021.