In exchange for Patrick Beverley, the Los Angeles Lakers gave Talen Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz. According to Michael Scotto, the Indiana Pacers were in touch with the Lakers regarding buying THT. Indiana wants to trade Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Daniel Theis to the West for THT, Russell Westbrook, and two first-round draught selections.
Before the Los Angeles Lakers traded Talen Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley, Michael Scotto claims that the Indiana Pacers had discussions with the Los Angeles Lakers about acquiring the player.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded THT to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley.
According to Scotto, in a deal that would send Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Daniel Theis west, Indiana wants to send THT along with Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks.
For the Lakers, Horton-position Tucker’s is unsuitable.
As an off-ball shooter, the 21-year-career-old’s 3-point percentage is only 27.6 percent, so he doesn’t provide much. He also didn’t make use of his talent to grab loose balls because Westbrook, LeBron James, and/or Anthony Davis were frequently on the court.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic highlighted one of Horton-best Tucker’s qualities, saying, Horton-Tucker is a tremendous pilot who can manufacture the basketball with his hands.
When he has had the rare opportunity to run the Lakers’ offense this season, particularly toward the end of the campaign, he has excelled. He is physical and makes advantage of ball screens as well as stationary attacks when he obtains an angle of attack to get into the paint and dismantle defenses. He can throw off the dribble and plays with a lot of tempo change and anxiety.
THT is exactly the kind of guy the Pacers ought to target since, at his age, he still has time to make it in the NBA.
Following the trades of Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert, Indiana is preparing for the future.
Indiana wants to trade Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, etc.
Although Turner is still on the squad, Scotto’s report emphasizes how the 6’11” center might not stick around for very long.
In the backfield, Horton-Tucker would be a solid defensive complement to Tyrese Haliburton and might even start if Hield departs.
Horton-Tucker instead has the opportunity to grow into another franchise with a long-term outlook.