Los Angeles Lakers: 7 potential trade packages for Talen Horton-Tucker
By Jason Reed
3. Talen Horton-Tucker for Larry Nance Jr.
The third potential trade also includes the Portland Trail Blazers and includes the Los Angeles Lakers trading for a player who used to wear the purple and gold. The Lakers brought in several former Lakers in the offseason so it would not be all that surprising to see them target more.
Larry Nance Jr. was also targeted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 season. Nance played well alongside LeBron James and he very well could have input in the decision to flip THT for the wing in Larry Nance Jr.
This trade does work one-for-one and if the Lakers wanted to also acquire someone like Simmons then they would need to throw in another contract as well. Simmons’ value is not that high but if the Lakers were trying to include him in the deal then the Blazers would leverage that to get a future second-round pick.
This is a much more realistic deal for the Blazers than the Covington deal. The Blazers do not need to even start losing for this deal to happen. Flipping one year of Nance for three years of THT, who is a strong perimeter defender, would be a smart team-building move for Portland.
However, I am not sure this is a good deal for the Lakers. While Nance adds what the Lakers need in theory, he is not going to move the needle and the team would be trading the potential of THT for someone who does not raise the title ceiling at all.
Verdict: Possible, but unlikely the Lakers say yes.