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Talen Horton-Tucker has been in the news of late after several teams have reportedly shown interest in acquiring him. He played 65 games for the LA Lakers in the 2020-21 NBA season and averaged 9.0 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game in 20.1 minutes of play.
Reports revealed the LA Lakers refused to add him to any trade package during the mid-season trade deadline or even last offseason. In the limited playing time he has received, Horton-Tucker has shown tremendous upside and the LA Lakers believe he is an integral part of their future.
Should the LA Lakers hang on to Talen Horton-Tucker?
Talen Horton-Tucker turned a lot of heads in the 2020-21 season. He received a lot more playing time as LeBron James and Anthony Davis were suffering from injuries and the youngster came into the national spotlight. Now teams around the league are interested in signing the soon-to-be free agent.
However, we make a case that the LA Lakers should hang on to Talen Horton-Tucker and re-sign him this upcoming offseason. Here are three reasons why Horton-Tucker should be a Laker next season as well.
#1 Talen Horton-Tucker always gives his 100% on the court
Talen Horton-Tucker has balled out every time he gets minutes on the floor. The main reason why the LA Lakers are so keen on retaining him is because he always gives his 100% whenever he gets playing time. In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, he was subbed in for nearly 7 minutes in Game 4 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
In those limited minutes, he went 2-5 from the field, including one made 3-pointer for 5 points, got two steals and grabbed two boards.
He was subbed in for nearly 10 minutes in Game 5 of the same series, and in those minutes, he went 4-7 from the field, made one three-pointer and grabbed 3 boards. He highly impressed fans and experts watching the LA Lakers game that night, and his assertiveness and potential earned him more playing time in the 2020-21 NBA season.
When LeBron James and Anthony Davis were injured, he flourished in the lineup. He averaged 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals on 48/35/72 shooting splits in April and May. Talen Horton-Tucker posted 13 games with 15+ points including two outings with 20+ points and recorded four career double-doubles this season.
#2 Talen Horton-Tucker has high two-way upside
Talen Horton-Tucker has shown incredible promise. He is always motivated and playing at his level-best when he is on the floor. The LA Lakers clearly saw their future with him and that is why they refused to part ways with him for any potential trade. He is also a decent defender who doesn't back down against anyone. He has a lean frame with long arms and an athletic body so he uses his stature to an advantage.
He has defended against Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving and several other stars this season and maintained his composure. He doesn't commit unnecessary fouls and stays in front of his man. In today's NBA, elite and patient defenders aren't exactly a dime a dozen and Talen Horton-Tucker's performances on the other end of the floor are what make him someone worth re-signing.
He has a decent three-point shot and is improving steadily each year. Talen Horton-Tucker can pull out a variety of moves to get to the bucket. He can easily be an All-Star one day if he keeps putting his work in the gym.
#3 He can be a great trade asset in the future
The LA Lakers must fear that a poison pill contract can be offered by rival teams to force their hand. A poison pill contract is when a team extends a player before the end of his rookie deal, only to trade him before the extension kicks in. In Horton-Tucker's case, any deals he receives are limited by the 'Gilbert Arenas provision'. These deals are small in the first two years and drastically increase in the final two years. Don't be surprised if the offer sheet has an average of $15 million with the last two years being north of $20 million.
To simplify, the LA Lakers can decide to match any deal and theoretically choose whether they want to count his salary per year against the cap or the average of four years.
Retaining Talen Horton-Tucker is beneficial in many ways. He can either grow within the franchise and help out in future championship runs or be used as a trade asset in the near future. Talen Horton-Tucker's athleticism and youth mean many teams will pay for his future production. Going by the current trend, he is already a hot commodity in the free agency market and if a huge star is up on the trade block soon, Horton-Tucker can be part of the package.
Also Read: 3 Reasons why Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't trade Ben Simmons
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