Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players that could earn a big payday in the playoffs

Talen Horton-Tucker could earn a big payday with the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs

Following a busy trade deadline that shrouded them in speculation, it is clear that the Lakers are undoubtedly high on second-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker.

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The biggest rumor involved LA’s pursuit of six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, who was the most highly sought-after piece at the deadline. The Lakers were among the most aggressive teams to make a run at Lowry, but according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Bill Oram (subscription required),they were unwilling to include Tucker in any deal. He was reportedly the sticking point in all conversations, and their refusal to include him limited any traction on a deal.

While hanging onto the 20-year-old rather than trading for the former NBA champ was controversial, Tucker has shown flashes of potential that he could develop into something special. In 61 games this season, the guard has been a key piece in Vogel’s rotation by averaging 8.7 points on .455/.262/.786 shooting splits, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 19.6 minutes per game.

With Tucker approaching restricted free agency this offseason, it appears certain that the Lakers will look to secure him for their long-term plans. While it seems that there will be a strong market for the young guard, the Lakers have the opportunity to match any deal extended in his direction. There is some confusion as to how much he could command, but a strong showing over the next several weeks could give the team a clearer view of how much his next deal should be worth.