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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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Reason against: Talen Horton-Tucker is a producer now

Talen Horton-Tucker missed the beginning of the season with an injury and was really good once he returned. While he cooled off from his hot start, there are still all the makings of THT having a breakout season for the Lakers this season.

That is what makes this so tricky for the Lakers. Talen Horton-Tucker is the only trade asset that the team has but he is also an important part of the rotation. The team would have to be 100% sure that it is getting an upgrade and there might not even be that package out there.

The value of Horton-Tucker lies in what he produces for the team. If he was just another scorer then the team could replace him with a better scorer or with depth. Instead, THT is arguably the team’s best perimeter defender, which is really important.

The Lakers have gone from one of the best defensive teams in the league to one of the worse and one of the team’s only hopes is in the playoffs is to give THT decent minutes to provide good perimeter defense alongside Anthony Davis.

Sure, it does not help the floor spacing but they are going to have to figure it out. They cannot close games with Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk/Wayne Ellington and Carmelo Anthony on the floor. The defense there is horrendous and there are too many holes to exploit.

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Unless the Lakers are getting a true knockout defender in a trade that also contributes offensively then it might not be much of an upgrade at all, even with as raw as THT is.

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