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Why the Los Angeles Lakers should definitely trade Talen Horton-Tucker

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on March 01, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on March 01, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Talen Horton-Tucker
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The Los Angeles Lakers may not benefit from Talen Horton-Tucker’s potential anyway

Oftentimes we think about young players and we think about how good they could be in several years. While Talen Horton-Tucker was not very good last season, he is still much better than most second-round picks in the league. Add in the fact that he is still only 21 years old and it is obvious that he has much more room to grow.

The problem with thinking about what THT could be in 4-5 years is the fact that he might not even be a Laker when that potential finally starts to show itself. We have seen this happen before. The Lakers held on to Julius Randle because of his potential, didn’t get anything for him leaving and that potential didn’t blossom until he left the team.

Horton-Tucker only has two more years, at most, under contract with the Lakers. At his age he is most likely going to accept his player option for the 2023-24 season. If we do not expect THT to finally come around until he is 24 or 25 then he is probably going to be off the team.

It is an ironic situation. The Lakers want to keep THT around to capitalize on that potential of him being a valuable role player. However, if he is not already showing that potential before his contract expires then the Lakers are going to move on from him anyway.

So yes, THT does have potential in this league but that potential will probably start shining through somewhere else.

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