![]() ![]() The Lakers, like some other Western Conference contenders, had identified him as a priority in the round.įans of him loved his skill - “he had some wiggle in his game” one revered scout told The Times - and his strength. The Lakers moved into the second round to make the pick, sending cash and a future second-round pick to the Orlando Magic to get him. Horton-Tucker boosted his stock by playing well in front of tons of NBA decision-makers and evaluators at the Maui Invitational Tournament, but concerns about his body, his conditioning (which is tied to work ethic) and his shooting kept him on the board until the 46th pick of last year’s draft. One scout visited Iowa State to get a look at future lottery pick Tyrese Haliburton only to have Cyclones coach Steve Prohm tell him that he also should pay attention to the baby-faced, chubby, 6-foot-4 tweener. “People were all over the board on him ,” one NBA executive said of Horton-Tucker’s draft stock. But there’s excitement around the league with the Lakers, at least, having unearthed a possible rotation player in the middle of the second round (no small feat). NBA scouts and executives have varied opinions, hesitant to go too far based off a couple of preseason games. He led with 33 points and 10 rebounds in their 131-106 over the Clippers in exhibition!- Earvin Magic Johnson December 14, 2020 The found another gem in Talen Horton-Tucker. Have the Lakers truly found another gem, as Magic Johnson tweeted, and are we in the earliest days of seeing a player who is truly special, like James thinks, or, as one executive said, is THT just another product of the preseason? It just tells me to go out and play my game and be free.” ![]() So just being able to have that support and confidence from those guys is a plus for me. “Every time I’m on the court they’re just telling me to play free and do what I do. “They were just telling me to keep it going,” Horton-Tucker said. 2, the Lakers’ bench continued to boost him with each basket or key defensive stop. ![]() During a 33-10 game by Horton-Tucker in preseason night No. Now 20, Horton-Tucker has Lakers fans buzzing after a pair of terrific performances in exhibition wins against the Clippers. And now the Lakers have to make room for LeBron James to keep him out of THT’s way. The compressed offseason and the desire to rest regulars put Horton-Tucker into that starting lineup way faster than that coach could’ve imagined. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |