Talen Horton-Tucker will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Los Angeles Lakers could face strong competition to keep him in LA for the long-term future.
Horton-Tucker posted career-high numbers all across the board in his second season in the NBA after the Lakers drafted him in the second round two years ago.
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, one Eastern Conference executive would offer Horton-Tucker’s a max contract in free agency.
“At 20, he’s only a year or two older than some of the top prospects – Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Suggs – in July’s NBA draft.
“I’d max him out,” an Eastern Conference executive said. Horton-Tucker can earn up to roughly $83 million over the next four years, but only if a team has the cap room to give him an Arenas rule offer sheet as a restricted free agent. (The cited executive does not have the necessary cap space to make that max offer.)”
It’s still unclear if the Lakers will have the ability to match any offer for THC regarding that they also need to sign other key free agents like Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond.
