Failed Former Laker Gets Final Chance in the NBA
By Cem Yolbulan
The Los Angeles Lakers went through a significant transformation over the last couple of years. Rob Pelinka's tenure has been filled with a constant roster churn with the entire team changing around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
This roster churn obviously includes plenty of mistakes. A lot of the transactions made since the Lakers' 2020 championship resulted in a downgrade rather than an improvement.
One of those mistakes was giving a contract extension and holding onto Talen Horton-Tucker. Once a highly-touted prospect for the Lakers, Horton-Tucker has failed to live up to his promise over the last few years, struggling to find a new team in free agency this summer. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, he finally signed a partially guaranteed deal with the rebuilding Chicago Bulls.
NBA News: Talen Horton-Tucker Signs With the Chicago Bulls
Free agent guard Talen Horton-Tucker has agreed to a partially guaranteed deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell @TheAthletic. The Chicago native returns home and will have an opportunity to make Bulls roster after averaging 10.5 points over the last two seasons in Utah. pic.twitter.com/YPoIfrurh7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 4, 2024
This deal shows how far Horton-Tucker has fallen. In the 2021 offseason, the Lakers gave him a three-year, $32 million deal after his second season in the league. Yet, after one year on that contract, the Lakers dealt him to the Utah Jazz to bring back Patrick Beverley. Horton-Tucker failed to take that next step in Utah, struggling immensely from the field, and averaging 10.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on miserable 40.9/30.6/77.3 shooting splits.
Before turning into one of the least efficient scorers in the league, Horton-Tucker showed some promise. He had good positional size at 6-foot-4 with a long wingspan and solid defensive upside. He was strong, could drive to the basket, and pass the ball. He surely looked like a good second-round pick.
However, the Lakers clearly misevaluated Horton-Tucker and his potential. Between 2020 and 2022, they moved on from Danny Green, Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Kyle Kuzma, but kept Horton-Tucker. They reportedly kept him out of trade discussions and made him near-untouchable.
A perimeter player who couldn't shoot was never a good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis but the Lakers' front office failed to see that.
Now, the former Iowa State standout gets another chance in the NBA. He is still 23 years old and has the potential to stick around in the league. However, he has to show significant improvement to do so and the Lakers fans will be keeping a close eye on him in his journey.
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