Los Angeles Lakers: 3 burning questions ahead of the NBA trade deadline

By Jason Reed | Mar 23, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the rim against Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of a game at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Will the Los Angeles Lakers be open to trading Talen Horton-Tucker

To be completely clear: I am not advocating for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Talen Horton-Tucker. THT has a lot of potential as a two-way player and at the very least could be an elite defensive option, similar to Alex Caruso, that is better offensively as well.

However, there could be reasons for the Lakers to trade THT. First is the fact that the Lakers know nothing is guaranteed in the future and want to capitalize on LeBron James while he is still playing at the level he is playing at. If they can parlay THT into a third star, such as Victor Oladipo, perhaps they make that move.

The other, and more compelling, reason is that THT’s potential could price him out of LA this offseason. The Lakers already have several contract obligations to figure out in Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso and Montrezl Harrell and THT is just another name added to the list.

THT could get a poison-pill offer sheet from another team and assuming the Lakers re-sign those other players they will be over the cap and will not be able to take on the average cap hit that THT’s poison-pill offer would entail. It would take a team valuing him that much, but a team could theoretically swoop in and sign THT away.

And if the Los Angeles Lakers think that is a realistic possibility then they may look to get something for THT instead of letting him walk after the season when he won’t have that big of a role in the rotation in the playoffs.

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