Los Angeles Lakers: 7 potential trade packages for Talen Horton-Tucker
By Jason Reed
6. Talen Horton-Tucker and a contract for Kelly Oubre
The Lakers Legacy guys theorized that P.J. Washington could maybe be included in this deal as well but that complicates things. The Lakers already have to attach another contract in the deal and I don’t think the Hornets would want to part ways with youth in Washington.
However, they absolutely could be willing to part ways with an older player in Kelly Oubre for a younger player in Talen Horton-Tucker. While the Hornets are playing well this season they are not true title-contenders and the ceiling might be a second-round exit.
That is not necessarily a bad thing but this is a team that is still building and growing. A great way to build and grow is to sign a role player like Oubre and then flip a year and a half for him for two and a half years of a young player like THT.
While they would lose some scoring with Oubre, THT could replace most of that and open up more shots for other players. More importantly, THT would give the Hornets a young defensive player to build the perimter defense around.
The problem with this trade from LA’s point of view is that Oubre has been horrible defensively this season. Part of that is because of the team he is on but even at his best, he is as good of a defender as THT is now.
Granted, the Lakers would be adding a wing and that would help even out the rotation but there runs the risk of his defense lacking. Sure, they would add another solid scorer, but it would only add to the defensive holes in LA. Charlotte definitely says yes to this and I am not quite sure what LA would say depending on how the season goes.