The name Talen Horton-Tucker could still raise Los Angeles Lakers fans' blood pressure a bit, even though it's been three seasons since he last played for L.A.
After acquiring Horton-Tucker on draft night in 2019 from the Orlando Magic, the wing quickly became a player whom the Lakers valued very highly. With that being the case, as many remember, he was deemed as close to being untouchable in trade talks as a young player could be. This ultimately turned into a decision that backfired horribly for the Purple and Gold.
Now, after trading him away entirely too late and missing the boat on what would have been a steal from whatever franchise they sent him to, Horton-Tucker has worn out his welcome in the league just a handful of years later and is set to head overseas to continue his career.
EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce Istanbul are finalizing a deal with six-year NBA guard Talen Horton-Tucker, per @urbodo 🇹🇷
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) September 1, 2025
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Ex-Laker Talen Horton-Tucker Forced Overseas Despite NBA Desire
According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com, EuroLeague champions Fenerbache Istanbul and Horton-Tucker are finalizing a contract that will bring the wing to Europe for the first time as a professional.
If this is the end for Horton-Tucker in the NBA, being a member of the league is a two-way street; despite his desire to remain in North America, he will have played 305 total games for three different teams.
His longest stint came in Los Angeles. The Lakers kept him on the roster through the 2021-22 season. In his time with the Purple and Gold, Horton-Tucker averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 22.1 minutes per game. Not to belabor the point, but these aren't the numbers of a player you hold onto in favor of proven veterans, as L.A. did.
Instead of ending up with Kyle Lowry in 2021, Los Angeles held onto Horton-Tucker for too long and was forced to settle for an aging Russell Westbrook instead. Even if holding onto Horton-Tucker for that long was as far as things went, it would have been a mistake. Unfortunately, the misguided desire to keep Horton-Tucker cost the Lakers a first-round pick in 2022 as well, when the Toronto Raptors were willing to make another offer to acquire him.
By the time the front office in Los Angeles finally came to its senses and shipped him to the Utah Jazz, his value had dropped so much that potential compensation had gone from veteran starters to first-round picks to having to pair Horton-Tucker with Stanley Johnson just to acquire a 34-year-old Patrick Beverley from the Jazz.
It isn't Horton-Tucker's fault that his name alone brings up this many strong memories for Lakers fans. That falls squarely on the shoulders of the front office that declined to maximize the trade value he had at the time. Unfortunately, that is just the way things work, though, when you're a professional athlete on a team like the Lakers.
Perhaps a strong campaign with the defending EuroLeague champs will be enough to help him navigate his way back to the NBA. Lakers fans probably shouldn't bank on any reunions with the Purple and Gold, however.