Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker’s trade value is very low
The decision to give Talen Horton-Tucker a three-year, $32 million deal this past offseason is really starting to come back to haunt the Los Angeles Lakers.
At just 21-years-old, Horton-Tucker certainly has the potential to make a long-lasting impact in Los Angeles, but the Lakers are currently the 9-seed in the Western Conference and do not have time to wait around, as they were picked by many to win the NBA Finals this season.
Russell Westbrook has not been the All-Star the Lakers have needed him to be and with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both missing a large chunk of time due to injuries, Los Angeles has not had the necessary secondary depth to be a threat in the Western Conference.
Talen Horton-Tucker was expected to be a key rotational player off the bench for the Lakers, but he has averaged just 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and has shot just 25% from three-point range.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: NBA Trade Grades: Reviewing Kings-Pacers Swap For Sabonis, Haliburton
Since December, the Lakers have been exploring trade opportunities revolving around Horton-Tucker and they have even attached Kendrick Nunn in trade talks, but very few teams have shown a level of interest in what the Lakers have to offer.
According to Dan Woike, Broderick Turner and Andrew Greif at the Los Angeles Times, both Talen Horton-Tucker and the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick are on the table in trade discussions ahead of Thursday’s deadline, but Horton-Tucker’s value is very low right now and some are deeming him to have a “bad contract” to trade for.
Having no cap space, being over the tax line, and having virtually no tradable assets, the Lakers are in a very tough spot right now and their options are extremely limited.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: NBA Trade Grades: Reviewing Kings-Pacers Swap For Sabonis, Haliburton
Talen Horton-Tucker will most likely get dealt, but the Lakers will be lucky to get the kind of value that they would want for him.
Magic veteran Terrence Ross is a very likely trade candidate for the Lakers, as is Celtics’ wing Josh Richardson ahead of the deadline in a trade package that could include Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a future first-round pick.
