Report: Talen Horton-Tucker returning to Lakers on three-year deal

The Los Angeles Lakers and RFA F Talen Horton-Tucker have reached an agreement on a three-year, $32 million deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday afternoon. Horton-Tucker was set to become a restricted free agent on Friday. He was best known for breaking out during the preseason, though he didn’t factor much into the Lakers’ rotation in 2020-21. Horton-Tucker is considered one of the only young assets for LA and could see an increased role on a mostly veteran team in 2021-22.

Horton-Tucker, 20, was a second-round pick by the Orlando Magic back in 2019. He averaged 9 points per game over 65 games last season, playing around 20 minutes per contest. The Lakers have had a busy offseason so far with a ton of roster turnover. Among the players who have left are Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder, Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers have added veterans Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Wayne Ellington over the past two days. They will join THT and LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook on the active roster.

While I was typing this story up, the Lakers reportedly reached an agreement with newly-made UFA G Kendrick Nunn on a two-year, $10 million contract, per reports. There is a player option in Year 2 of Nunn’s deal with the Lakers. He was recently made a UFA when the Miami Heat decided not to tender him a qualifying offer.