Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker has become a trade target for as many as seven teams, Jordan Schultz of Schultz Report tweets.
However, the Lakers are reluctant to move one of their few young talents, so their asking price is high. The 21-year-old Horton-Tucker is averaging a career-best 11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 2.9 APG and is coming off a 19-point, 6-steal performance against Orlando. His season debut was delayed due to thumb surgery but he’s become a major part of the rotation, averaging 29 MPG this month.
The 6’4” shooting guard in the first year of a three-year, $30.8M deal and can’t be traded until January 15th after signing the new contract as a restricted free agent in August.
His $9.5M salary this season makes him one of just two Lakers earning between the minimum and maximum. That could make him a necessary trade chip if the Lakers wants to make a win-now splash for a non-max player.
The Lakers are reportedly interested in the Pistons’ Jerami Grant, who’s making $20M this season, and Horton-Tucker’s salary would likely be an essential component for Los Angeles to acquire Grant or a player with a similar contract.
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