Silver Screen and Roll · Feb 8, 2021
Talen Horton-Tucker’s contract situation, explained
Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty ImagesWhen the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Talen Horton-Tucker with the No. 46 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, they had the option to sign him to a standard four-year rookie contract, which would have allowed them to re-sign Horton-Tucker using his full Bird rights in the fourth year of his contract, or when his deal expired.
However, because the Lakers were in win-now mode, the used the precious cap space they had in 2019 to sign veterans players; most notably DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook, who signed for more than the veteran’s minimum. As a result, they could only offer Horton-Tucker a two-year deal under the cap.
