Talen Horton-Tucker Discussion: Growing Pains

Another solid game from THT, albeit in a blowout loss…

I like the kid. We have a lot of holes in our roster, and I hope when we’re fully healthy, he can help fill one of those holes and be a big part of our team…

But based on his contract, honestly I think his role on this team is trade bait. Keep pumping up that value. He might be the only asset we have a chance to use to legitimately improve the team.

 

Develop him. Win or lose, more PT the better

 

We aren't trading Tucker. If he was available at all they would have traded him in the deal for Lowry.

 

yea we dont need another ball dominant "star" again

 

His return has been a breathe of fresh air.

 

Not sure we can trade THT unless it's for a guy like Siakam who can fit a huge need for this team and be slotted as a #3 guy on a title team.

THT is the only 2 way guard the Lakers have with the bulk/length to defend three positions. He may end up being more valuable than Westbrook frankly (all depends if his 3 point shooting holds up). Honestly, if you didn't know anything about basketball and you watched the game last night and he's the only Laker outside of flashes from Westbrook and AD that looked like he belonged on the same court against a title-contending bull steam.

The problem is the Lakers may need the player he will be in 3 years (combo of more experience and continued work on his jumpshot: see no reason he can't be like guys like Morant and Ball where the 3 point shot becomes a weapon and not just a tool to keep defenses honest. THT's form does looked smoother for sure then his rookie year)

 

Rondo and Bradley are playing too much IMO.

 

I think we should scrap the 3 guard set and play Howard more for now.

 

He's going to be a high level impact player this year for us.

That changes the calculus and this team's ceiling.

I think he will be a star, eventually.

Great 3 games, young fella.

 

Why did the Lakers dump all their assets into a old dumb third star who can't shoot when they had one waiting in the wings?

Just frustrating as Westbrook and THT games are so similar in terms of strengths and weaknesses that I don't know of you can play them together. THT is younger, bigger, and is more reliable in terms of shooting and less dumb stuff

 

We'll have to make it work.

I think THT is going to start, too.

Wondering if he we can stagger their mins.

Either way, we'll have to figure it out.

I'm just so excited about him, though.

Lol

 

What so beautiful is the his game is translating right now.

The improved shot will open up driving lanes and he's always been very good @ getting down hill.

Man, I feel like @LTLakerFan getting attached to this kid.

 

Injuries really were frustrating last year (and now this year).
There was a glimpse of something real special last year before Lebron got hurt where Vogel was running 3 ball handler lineups with some combination of THT, Caruso, Lebron, and hedgehog. I think those games w/o AD they were just thrashing defenses as you could get immediately go from defense to offense and attack the rim from multiple angles.

Hopefully the Lakers can get that bit of lightning in the bottle with Westbrook, THT, lineups: you should theoretically be able to off any rebound with one pass start running downhill against the defense before it can set