There has been a lot of focus on the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to trade rumors. The team is desperate to improve its roster after the disastrous 2021-22 season they endured when they went 33-49, missing the NBA Play-In Tournament despite having title aspirations coming into the campaign.
A lot of the trade rumors involving them have been centered around point guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has proven to be a poor fit on the roster and is someone Los Angeles needs to part ways with one way or another.
While Westbrook has garnered all of the headlines, he isn’t the only player that has been involved in some trade chatter. Los Angeles has also shopped around to see what kind of value Talen Horton-Tucker has on the trade market.
On his own, Horton-Tucker likely doesn’t have much value. He has been combined with Kendrick Nunn in some scenarios, but that doesn’t move the needle too much either after Nunn missed the entire season with a knee ailment. But, if you attach draft capital along with Horton-Tucker, they may find some takers.
Could the Brooklyn Nets be a potential trade partner? Rumors have swirled about a potential deal involving Westbrook and Kyrie Irving, but what if the Lakers targeted another Net, such as sharpshooter Seth Curry?
One deal that could work is Horton-Tucker and a 2027 first-round pick that is top-10 protected in exchange for Curry. The Lakers have reportedly been hesitant to attach draft capital to Horton-Tucker, as they will likely need it to move Westbrook. But, if they accept the harsh reality of Westbrook going nowhere, this is something they could explore.
Curry would be an excellent fit in the backcourt for Los Angeles because of his 3-point shooting prowess. Surrounding LeBron James with shooters has proven successful in the past and Curry would fit that mold.
But, he is much more than just a 3-point shooter. He has improved his ball-handling and playmaking, leading to a more diverse offensive game. Curry can play in the pick-and-roll and initiate some offense while being a threat to knock down shots off the dribble in the mid-range as well.
That kind of shot creation is certainly something that the Lakers could use more of to take pressure off of James and Anthony Davis. While not a traditional point guard, Seth Curry could start in that spot as a secondary playmaker to James, who has regularly led his team in assists throughout his career.
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