Orlando Magic: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Luke Duffy
Drafted, then traded, Talen Horton-Tucker
In the second round, the Orlando Magic opted to take a forward in Talen Horton-Tucker before the Los Angeles Lakers purchased him in order to complete their own roster. This is a move that will go under the radar, but once again it could come back to hurt the franchise.
Horton-Tucker is only 18 and a player that young still has so much improving to do. If the Lakers liked him enough to actively prise him from the Magic, and go on to offer him a rookie deal, they must see something in his abilities. LeBron James-led teams always do.
Horton-Tucker shot 40.6 percent from the field at Iowa State last season and has a notable 7’1″ wingspan, despite only being 6’4″.
Given that the Magic are trying to build a roster of offense-altering players, and that he can shoot a little too and figures to improve as he gets older, why didn’t they take the Chuma Okeke approach with him instead?
They would want to be very high on Iwundu to not have this guy as a cheap insurance policy should he not take another step in his own development. Horton-Tucker will surely spend time in the G-League this season, but he could have been doing so for the Lakeland Magic.
Unlike Okeke, he also doesn’t represent as much of a logjam either.
With Evan Fournier hardly a fan favorite and coming into the final two years of his deal, the Magic would be wise to look at alternatives and more defense-friendly young players to plug in to some of his minutes.
Wesley Iwundu represents this way of thinking and he was valuable in spots last season.
Horton-Tucker could have in time been that guy as well, had he stayed in Orlando and his career had taken the best case scenario route.
Instead he’ll become a question mark over in Los Angeles instead, but one that we may not have seen the last of, even if he doesn’t stick with the Lakers either.