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Los Angeles Lakers: Three players that might not finish the season in LA

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a Laker foul during a 104-101 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on April 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a Laker foul during a 104-101 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on April 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Talen Horton-Tucker
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Talen Horton-Tucker /

3. Talen Horton-Tucker

Not a lot of people know about Talen Horton-Tucker heading into his rookie season and he actually has a pretty solid skill set that should translate nicely to the NBA level. However, he still will be green, so he really does not have a role on this Laker team.

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It would not be all that surprising to see Horton-Tucker assigned to the G League to actually get him playing time. There he can hopefully come into his own, become one of the better G League players in the league and increase his trade stock as well.

He really is the only young piece that the Lakers have left to offer unless they want to trade Kyle Kuzma, which wouldn’t even be worth it as the team would not be getting a justifiable return without Kuzma being a part of a bigger package.

Horton-Tucker is not going to get the Lakers some stellar player, so do not expect much. However, the Lakers could absolutely land a solid player that is on an expiring contract for Horton-Tucker that would instantly deepen the team’s rotation.

Someone like Marco Bellinelli (anyone his caliber) could be targetted as the last piece that the team needs in exchange for a promising young player that would not have seen the light of day in the NBA otherwise.

Why keeping Kuzma was a mistake. dark. Next

Horton-Tucker really has no purpose for this Lakers team, at least not yet. However, the versatility he showed in college is a very promising sign that he can ball out and add some trade value for the Lakers to capitalize on.

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