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Lakers flip Talen Horton-Tucker for 3 and D guard in potential Spurs trade

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 03, 2022 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 - FEBRUARY 03: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 03, 2022 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 C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Why the Los Angeles Lakers could say yes:

Josh Richardson has struggled a bit in recent years on different teams, leading his trade value to be similar to that of Talen Horton-Tucker. While his overall numbers last season were solid, he was a bit underwhelming in both Dallas and Boston.

That being said, the type of player that Richardson has been throughout his career is exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers need to add. Richardson is a prototypical three and D guard/forward and the Lakers did not have a single player of this mold last season.

The Lakers had some guys that could hit shots in the likes of Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony but neither of them could play a lick of defense. Los Angeles also had some guys that were decent defensively, such as Stanely Johnson and even Talen Horton-Tucker, but they were inefficient on the defensive end.

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That was the main problem with Horton-Tucker. He was one of the least efficient players on the offensive end in the entire league last season and with just average defense, he did not make up for it is in the slightest.

Richardson is not an elite defender but he is someone who can play solid perimeter defense and knock down threes as an off-ball shooter. Last season he shot 41.5% from beyond the arc in 3.8 attempts per game.

Richardson would essentially give the Lakers what they had before the Russell Westbrook trade that they so desperately now lack. He would be the new version of Danny Green or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who were a lot more important than fans gave them credit for.

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