When Talen Horton-Tucker was dealt from the Lakers as part of a package to bring back Patrick Beverley last week, it was a startling moment of realization of precisely how far his value had plummeted in a little more than a year.
In 2021, THT was the line in the sand drawn by the franchise in negotiations for Kyle Lowry. The Raptors were allowed a combination of role players, perhaps even draft compensation. But THT was a step too far. So then, how did we get from that point to last week, where the Lakers traded him for an overpriced veteran on an expiring deal?