Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Kenrich Williams, C Mike Muscala, OKC 2022 2nd Round Pick
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: G Talen Horton-Tucker, LAL 2025 2nd Round Pick
The Lakers are in trouble entering the offseason because of their cap situation. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are making a combined $129 million for the 2022-23 season, already putting Los Angeles above the salary cap and close to the tax line.
Getting out of Russell Westbrook’s contract would be very helpful for the Lakers, as would getting out of Talen Horton-Tucker’s contract.
Horton-Tucker has potential to grow into a sturdy secondary talent for this Lakers’ franchise, but their championship window is starting to close with LeBron James not getting any younger.
This team has no time to wait around for talent to develop, as they need to continuously find ways to add more championship-level pieces.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers Nearly Traded Talen Horton-Tucker To Raptors?
Trading Talen Horton-Tucker for Kenrich Williams and Mike Muscala is by no means making a move for more “championship-level” pieces, but they get some much needed salary-relief and two role players that can at least give the Lakers production on their bench.
Kenrich Williams is a reliable “3-and-D” type of player on the wing and it was surprising to not see playoff contending teams target him ahead of the deadline. Since joining the Thunder ahead of the 2020-21 season, Williams has averaged 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and has shot 39.1% from three-point range.
Mike Muscala is not a terrific defensive big man, but he is an above-average three-point shooting center. The Lakers’ biggest need in terms of talent around LeBron James and Anthony Davis right now is reliable shooters and both of these players they would get from the Thunder can provide that to them off-the-bench.
The Thunder should be more than willing to move both Muscala and Williams in the offseason and getting Talen Horton-Tucker in return, they should definitely be interested in this deal.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers Nearly Traded Talen Horton-Tucker To Raptors?
Oklahoma City is still in the middle of a rebuild and with the future already being bright for them, the best thing GM Sam Presti can do is to continue adding versatile, young talents.
