The Los Angeles Lakers really value Talen Horton-Tucker. The team made it a point to essentially buy a second-round pick in 2019 that way they could draft the promising prospect. Then, when trade talks for Kyle Lowry heated up at the deadline, it was the possible inclusion of THT that reportedly kept the Lakers from making the move.
The Lakers are obviously committed to THT and despite that, it is still not a guarantee that they can bring him back this offseason. THT is a restricted free agent and while that gives the Lakers the right to match any offer sheet, the potential for a poison-pill offer is worrisome.
We have explained this here on Lake Show Life before and you can find that here, but simply put, if another team offers that to THT then the Lakers may have their hands tied and may have to let him walk without ever getting anything for him.
Reminiscent of Julius Randle.
There are definitely threats that could lure Talen Horton-Tucker away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
THT is going to have a market. He obviously is not going to have a superstar market, but as a 20-year-old with NBA experience and solid experience at that, he will have a market. It is not often that a team can bring in a 20-year-old with experience that is already this polished.
We obviously hope that THT is in the purple and gold next season but it would not be all that shocking to see him elsewhere. Here are the biggest threats that Laker fans have to worry about.