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The Lakers rumors are all smoke: 3 reasons why LA won’t make any trades

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 21, 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. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images )
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 21, 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. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images ) /
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(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images ) – Los Angeles Lakers rumors
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images ) – Los Angeles Lakers rumors /

2. Talen Horton-Tucker might not be worth as much as you think

Talen Horton-Tucker is the only real trade asset that the Los Angeles Lakers have. THT is young and is on a pretty easy contract to move, making him the prime candidate to be traded if the Lakers do indeed want to move him this season.

However, there are a few problems with trading THT. First, the initial report by Shams is saying that the Lakers lack the young legs to make things happen. THT is one of the very few young players that the team has, so it would be counter-productive to trade him.

More importantly, THT might not be worth as much as Laker fans want to admit on the trade market. While THT is definitely worth a lot to the Lakers and there is a shortlist of players who would actually be worth trading for, it is safe to say that he is worth more to LA than other teams.

How is that possible? Well, the Lakers reportedly didn’t trade for Kyle Lowry last season because it would have had to involve THT. Not only that, but the team essentially chose to sign THT over Alex Caruso in the offseason. Being the only young player on the Lakers, THT has a lot of value for the future of the team.

A bad team that trades as asset (like the Detroit Pistons) won’t view THT in the same light. They have plenty of young players who are fighting for minutes to develop and they might look at THT, notice that his numbers and performance have not been that great, and undervalue him compared to the Lakers.

While Jerami Grant wouldn’t be a great fit on the Lakers, the Pistons can and should ask for more than just THT for him in a trade package. THT has not done much to make himself more valuable to other teams regardless of how valuable he is to the Lakers.

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