Talen Horton-Tucker Discussion: Growing Pains

Discussion in 'NBA Discussion' started by The Rock, Jun 20, 2019.

  1. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    to me they're more similar than they seem.

    and if THT (or russ) is going to be here long-term, we need to either get a center who can shoot or he needs to get his standstill three to a respectable level. there's just no way around it.
     
  2. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

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    I disagree and agree with your points here. I'm convinced THT can and will shoot. His last game he went 4-6 from three. When he started the season he was shooting well. Then the thumb injury happened and he was ice cold when he came back. But watching his shooting form, he has solid mechanics and since he doesn't really jump on his outside shot he should be able to develop a good shot. I expect him to shoot around 35% from three next year IF we don't trade him first.

    What I agree with is that he would be much better playing whenever Westbrook is sitting. Give him the keys to the bench unit and let him soar or crash.
     
  3. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, i can't shake the feeling that he'll become a respectable standstill three point shooter in the next couple of years. i know the results aren't there, but i just feel like his shot looks better than it did a year ago.
     
  4. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    Not to belabor a point but his FG and 3 point % have been going down each year since he started here as a rookie. His 3 pt % is in the 20’s. That is the definition of “he can’t shoot.”

    His first few games back from the thumb injury he looked fantastic and I was thrilled. Since then he’s been just awful other than a few other instances. He’s got a lot to work on this summer.

    I’m not saying don’t play him a lot of minutes. That’s the only way to develop him. But play him at PG where it makes sense. Give him Russ’s minutes, WTH. The season is done anyway. I just don’t see the point of starting him at SG when he can’t shoot. Give Monk and Reaves those SG minutes at this point.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2022
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  5. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I expect him to shoot around 40% from three next year IF we DO trade him.
     
  6. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

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    Sounds about right; if he stays 20%, if he goes 40%.

    Gotta either laugh or cry.
     
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  7. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    I actually don't think he will improve much in another team in that department. Never looked like a good shooter. He should play to his strengths while working for multiple seasons in his weaknesses. He also doesn't possess a good BB IQ.

    We need to shop him so he needs good minutes. He should be the only backup of Russ, so should play like 20/25min and never alongside Russ
     
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  8. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    kuz II; i'm telling you. we'll move him for a vet corpse and be like: why didn't he do this here?! when he was doing it on a smaller scale here already.
     
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  9. Cookie

    Cookie The Dame of Doom Staff Member

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    I’m still on team Tucker. He’s had issues this year but I think he will be better.
     
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  10. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    Doing what exactly? Missing threes?
     
  11. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yep. ship him. for anything. he sucks. we've got a great record with this.
     
  12. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    I didn’t say that. But yeah this summer I would like him traded. Hopefully his trade value will improve then. I’ve defended him here on LB but he was awful this year. We should have kept AC instead.
     
  13. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    He's underachieved no doubt but there is no Laker on the rosters who has been in a worst situation then him because of the Russ trade.
    His strengths aren't highlighted and his weaknesses come to the forefront.

    I would love to see him get burn w/o Westbrook for a 5 game stretch and see what happens
     
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  14. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    should have kept both and not traded for russ.

    trading THT at his nadir is compounding the problem.

    if we still had kuz at the deadline this year, we might have been able to trade him for someone that fit better. but we cashed out at his nadir, too.
     
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  15. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    Also you can see him becoming a really really good defender out there. He's learning to use his bulk to hold position and then use his go go gadget arms to make it tough on the defender.

    He's been playing well
     
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  16. Helljumper

    Helljumper - Lakers All Star -

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    Excellent game on BOTH ends of the court. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, now he can relax a bit with the trade deadline over.
     
  17. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    I think the trade deadline probably most affected him.


    It was his name that mostly kept coming up in trade rumors.

    Let's hope he can have a breakthrough to end the season.
     
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  18. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    He doesn't even have to break through, just show (or keep showing, depends what boat you're in) promise and progress. With a skeleton roster this summer and minimal means to get better or to keep Monk, we'll need THT as an asset. Hopefully he can at least get closer to last year's value (I know some of the was the unknown and salary as well).
     
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  19. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    We traded Kuz for a superstar. It was a good trade on that perspective. Harrell is scrambling in the league and KCP is a good player but hasn't much trade value.
    We are all aware of the ins and outs of Russ's fit and performance, but on theory, considering that we wanted a 3rd star and apparently someone to get some more rest to LeBron, with the info we had by 2021 summer, it made total sense to move Kuzma in that deal. There's no better player (in a vacuum) we could get with that package. We didn't had many more assets and it was even a surprise to get a deal like that. We can argue the fit as we did at the time and intensely the past months, but it was a good move with a proper plan (that obviously failed hugely and had many flaws)

    It would be great if we could do the same with THT. Because, I can't see many scenarios where we are able to improve this team while keeping THT.

    So there's two scenarios. He either improves (meaning 6th man of the year candidate) or he doesn't.
    I think we can agree he is not improving much with Russ on the team. So his best shot is if we move Russ. And for me that's the key. We clearly need to upgrade the roster, and our only assets to do that is via Russ or THT. Any trade that can bring us some value is centered in one of them. So the only way it makes sense to keep him and make the squad stronger is by trading Russ for at least 2 valuable pieces (either on court or as trade assets). I believe that's fairly unlikely.
    So, how do you improve our squad without trading him?

    Then there's his contract. LeBron ends his contract next year and THT the year after. Either THT improves immensely as a 3rd/4th wheel in this team during next year or he is messing up Lebron window. If we take that bet, keeping him instead of trading, it's because we are focusing on a chance in the future and eliminating any new chance to compete for a championship with LeBron.

    So if we decide that, what's the point of keeping LeBron?
     
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  20. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    kuz for russ wasn't a good move. most of us said so at the time, and boy is that just undeniable now.

    the lebron window is closed. if he's your top guy and russ is your third guy, you can't win. we've seen that, too.

    where i agree is that THT's value can't get lower than now. period.

    as for why we're keeping lebron: there are plenty of reasons, starting with he's still worth max nba money, even in his current form.

    but i'd rather see how THT develops here than ship him for junk and end up with absolutely nothing in the end.

    i was fine with the supposed wall/wood for russ/tht deal, too, so it's not like i think he's untouchable or something. but why sell low? for lebron's closed window?
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2022

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