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Reasons for and against the Lakers trading Talen Horton-Tucker

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Serge Ibaka #9 of the LA Clippers loses a rebound between Anthony Davis #3 and Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 119-115 Clippers win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 03, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Serge Ibaka #9 of the LA Clippers loses a rebound between Anthony Davis #3 and Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 119-115 Clippers win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 03, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Reason for: Despite the record, the Los Angeles Lakers are in championship or bust mode

Most teams that are hovering around .500 and are an eighth seed are not going to trade a young asset. However, despite the slow start, this is still a Los Angeles Lakers team that is title or bust this season. Anything short of a trip to the NBA Finals is a disappointment for the Lakers, regardless of what it looks like right now.

That could make the team more inclined to move on from their only trade asset in THT. Rob Pelinka understands that the team really has no outs because of the Westbrook contract and if the right package for THT presents itself then he might just jump on it.

This is different than previous seasons as well. While there were aspirations, LeBron’s first season with the Lakers was not a title or bust season. The Lakers were essentially waiting for Anthony Davis and were going to add complementary pieces that did not impact the cap too much.

This is different. There are no players that the Lakers are waiting for and quite frankly, there is not even another avenue that the team can explore. It has locked in this big three for the next two seasons with the goal of winning a championship.

For that reason, it might become easier to simply trade THT for a better asset and cross that bridge once it gets there.

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