Lakers shopping Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn: 'No one is biting'

Alex Kennedy
Jan 24 2022

The Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely underwhelming so far this season, so it’s no surprise that the front office is looking to make some moves prior to the NBA trade deadline.

The Lakers are currently 23-24, which puts them in the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Frank Vogel seems to be coaching for his life, Russell Westbrook was recently benched after struggling mightily and the Lakers have been linked to just about every trade candidate. 

Los Angeles has been very active leading up to the Feb. 10 deadline. However, it’s unclear if the franchise has the assets to pull off the kind of splashy moves that they're looking to make.

Here’s what Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer wrote about the Lakers’ recent trade talks: “They’re calling teams offering a future first, Kendrick Nunn, and Talen Horton-Tucker, who has underwhelmed this season, and no one is biting yet.”

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Lakers offered this same package to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant. 

The Lakers chose to prioritize Horton-Tucker last offseason when he was a restricted free agent, giving him a three-year deal worth $32 million.

While THT is still just 21 years old and has a lot of untapped potential, he hasn't taken the leap that the Lakers expected, averaging just 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 26.9 minutes, while shooting 41.5% from the field, 25.3% from three-point range and 78.5% from the free-throw line.

“The Lakers’ problem is THT just isn’t valued highly enough by teams and that 2027 pick is a long time from conveying,” O’Connor writes.

This season, Horton-Tucker is earning $9,500,000 (followed by $10,260,000 next season and a player option worth $11,020,000 in 2023-24).

Nunn is earning $5,000,000 this season, with a player option worth $5,250,000 next year. The 26-year-old has yet to suit up for the Lakers, as he's recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee.

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