NBA Free Agency: 3 reasons why the LA Lakers should re-sign Talen Horton-Tucker

#2 Talen Horton-Tucker has high two-way upside

Talen Horton-Tucker guards Nets' Kyrie Irving

Talen Horton-Tucker has shown incredible promise. He is always motivated and playing at his level-best when he is on the floor. The LA Lakers clearly saw their future with him and that is why they refused to part ways with him for any potential trade. He is also a decent defender who doesn't back down against anyone. He has a lean frame with long arms and an athletic body so he uses his stature to an advantage.

Marc Gasol on Talen Horton-Tucker: "A lot of players can put the ball in the basket, but if you can do both things (offense and defense), that's when you have a chance to be special." pic.twitter.com/iWcVfzvClo

— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) December 14, 2020

He has defended against Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving and several other stars this season and maintained his composure. He doesn't commit unnecessary fouls and stays in front of his man. In today's NBA, elite and patient defenders aren't exactly a dime a dozen and Talen Horton-Tucker's performances on the other end of the floor are what make him someone worth re-signing.

He has a decent three-point shot and is improving steadily each year. Talen Horton-Tucker can pull out a variety of moves to get to the bucket. He can easily be an All-Star one day if he keeps putting his work in the gym.

#3 He can be a great trade asset in the future

Talen Horton-Tucker with the LA Lakers

The LA Lakers must fear that a poison pill contract can be offered by rival teams to force their hand. A poison pill contract is when a team extends a player before the end of his rookie deal, only to trade him before the extension kicks in. In Horton-Tucker's case, any deals he receives are limited by the 'Gilbert Arenas provision'. These deals are small in the first two years and drastically increase in the final two years. Don't be surprised if the offer sheet has an average of $15 million with the last two years being north of $20 million.

To simplify, the LA Lakers can decide to match any deal and theoretically choose whether they want to count his salary per year against the cap or the average of four years.

This THT highlight reel is a summer hit 🔥#LakeShow x @Verizon pic.twitter.com/wppoBNtBfK

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 13, 2021

Retaining Talen Horton-Tucker is beneficial in many ways. He can either grow within the franchise and help out in future championship runs or be used as a trade asset in the near future. Talen Horton-Tucker's athleticism and youth mean many teams will pay for his future production. Going by the current trend, he is already a hot commodity in the free agency market and if a huge star is up on the trade block soon, Horton-Tucker can be part of the package.