Why the Los Angeles Lakers won’t trade Talen Horton-Tucker
By Jason Reed
The NBA trade deadline is getting closer and with the Los Angeles Lakers on a bit of a skid, the rumors surrounding the team have grown. New targets have emerged on the market and in the coming weeks even more new players will likely emerge as potential targets as well.
The buyout market is already a great route for a contending team to go but there is always the possibility of a trade. Thus far, we have already heard reports about the team being interested in P.J. Tucker as well as Mo Bamba.
The Lakers do not have a lot to trade but one young asset that they do have it Talen Horton-Tucker. THT recently started against the Utah Jazz, leading some to believe that this was a way to increase his trade value as trade bait this season.
While Rob Pelinka certainly is savvy, I doubt that was the reason for starting THT. The Lakers were depleted and lost three games in a row. Frank Vogel was trying to switch something up.
In fact, I think there is very little chance that Talen Horton-Tucker gets traded this season. I get teh logic: this is a contending team that is not in the business of developing a player, they are in the business of going after a championship. Anything that helps that championship pursuit should be done, right?
Not necessarily, at least not with Talen Horton-Tucker.