Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Mo Bamba

Orlando Magic Receive: G Talen Horton-Tucker (via sign-and-trade), LAL 2024 2nd Round Pick

The Lakers barely have any valuable trade assets, but they can definitely use Talen Horton-Tucker as leverage in trade talks this offseason. The 20-year-old shooting guard is a restricted free agent that could be a potential sign-and-trade option for the Lakers this offseason. 

Through two years in Los Angeles, Horton-Tucker has not held a big role, averaging just 19.5 minutes per game over the course of 71 total games, but he has made the most of his opportunities, averaging 8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and shooting 45.9% from the floor. 

The Lakers are very high on the upside Talen Horton-Tucker possesses, but the cost of keeping him could very well end up being too much. In fact, one Eastern Conference executive reportedly told Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus that he would “max him out” in free agency this year. He’s become one of the more intriguing names to watch in rumors this NBA offseason.

This seems extremely crazy to believe that Talen Horton-Tucker has earned a four-year, $84M contract, but it is reasonable to believe that the young guard could want a three to four year deal worth upwards of $12M per year. Los Angeles cannot afford to keep Tucker at this price tag, which is why trading him via a sign-and-trade for Mo Bamba could make sense. 

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Bamba averaged 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in about 15.8 minutes per game this past season and he has made big strides in becoming more of a threat from the perimeter as well, which is why he could be of value to the Lakers. Getting some out of nothing for THT is essentially the goal here for Los Angeles in this trade, assuming that Horton-Tucker looks to get a bigger contract somewhere else other than in L.A.