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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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Reason for: The Los Angeles Lakers might not even see Talen Horton-Tucker’s potential in the purple and gold

We just broke down all of the potential that Talen Horton-Tucker has as a pro so this reason for might not make a ton of sense. While I personally believe THT’s floor is that of a solid rotation player on a contending team, there is a chance that the Lakers don’t get to see THT’s ceiling happen in LA.

The reason being is THT’s age and the duration of his contract. THT signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this past offseason that has a player option for the third season. Unless he starts to play poorly, THT is likely going to opt-out of that deal to make more money.

Even if he opts into that final year the most the Lakers are guaranteed of THT is three seasons. THT will turn 23 in his final season under contract with the Lakers and by then he might just be scratching the surface of his ceiling.

Heck, he might not be hitting his ceiling at all as a Laker at that point. There are two realities that could happen and both could lead to him leaving the Lakers. The first is that THT really starts to show signs of making that leap at the end of his contract, prompting another team to offer him an insane deal that the Lakers can’t match.

The other possibility is that THT does not start to reach that prime yet and the Lakers don’t want to pay him a decent-sized contract while another team might. This could very well be a Julius Randle situation where THT doesn’t peak until 3-4 years after his final season with the Lakers.

We can talk about his potential and how he can impact the Lakers all we want but he can very well leave in three years. This is not a quarterback where you know you can lock them up for their entire career.

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