The 2020-21 season didn’t end the way the Los Angeles Lakers had envisioned after a first-round playoff exit, but there were some silver linings to take away.
One of those was the play of Talen Horton-Tucker, who showed he could belong in the rotation going forward.
After a strong preseason where Horton-Tucker put all of his skills on display, he gradually earned more minutes with his potential and when injuries began accumulating.
Horton-Tucker posted career-high numbers all across the board in his second season in the NBA after the Lakers drafted him in the second round two years ago.
He was one of the few Lakers who could create their own shot, primarily by churning downhill and attacking the basket. While there’s still plenty of potential for Horton-Tucker to tap into, especially from 3-point range and off-ball defense, his stock has soared in the eyes of an NBA executive.
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Horton-Tucker could have a large sum of money coming his way since he’ll be a restricted free agent this summer:
At 20, he’s only a year or two older than some of the top prospects—Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Suggs—in July’s NBA draft. “I’d max him out,” an Eastern Conference executive said. Horton-Tucker can earn up to roughly $83 million over the next four years, but only if a team has the cap room to give him an Arenas rule offer sheet as a restricted free agent. (The cited executive does not have the necessary cap space to make that max offer.)
The context of this is who the Lakers could include in a possible trade for Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, who might be available via trade if he’s disgruntled with his current situation.
The Lakers don’t have the most attractive assets to offer Portland for a player of Lillard’s magnitude, but Horton-Tucker is one of the team’s most prized assets. However, it could be difficult to retain him if he receives offers like this.
Horton-Tucker’s value shouldn’t be that high since he hasn’t fully proven himself yet, but if a rebuilding team feels confident in his development to be a star player, Horton-Tucker could be donning a new uniform next season.
The Lakers could be squeezed out by another team if so, and re-signing him would be unlikely considering L.A. has other free agents to retain and sign with limited financial flexibility.
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