The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2019 NBA Draft without any draft picks, having traded the fourth overall selection as part of the package to acquire Anthony Davis.
However, the organization has reportedly acquired the 46th overall pick in the draft from the Orlando Magic by trading cash considerations and future draft compensation. The Lakers then drafted Talen Horton-Tucker with the pick.
The trade was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
For the Lakers, acquiring at least one second-round pick was a major goal, giving the team a chance at getting talent at a low cost as the team looks to build its bare roster around Davis and LeBron James.
At just 18 years old, Horton-Tucker may be more of a project than a player ready to contribute right away but he can nonetheless provide depth for a team desperately in need of it. In his lone season at Iowa State, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He shot just 40.6 percent from the field, a number disproportionately lowered due to his 30.8 percent shooting on 4.5 attempts from behind the 3-point line.
Horton-Tucker also averaged 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in his 27.2 minutes per game.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Horton-Tucker never met with the Lakers in the pre-draft process but has met Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The rookie is also represented by Klutch Sports like the star duo.
