Talen Horton-Tucker

Horton-Tucker showed considerable growth last season, upping his season averages to 9.0 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals over 20.1 minutes per game. He emerged as one of the team's primary contributors when both LeBron James and Anthony Davis were forced to sit out with injury. For instance, during a nine-game stretch from April 2-19, THT posted per-game averages of 14.3 points, 3.8 dimes, 3.7 boards and 1.9 thefts. The Iowa State product's development earned him a three-year, $32 million contract from the organization in the offseason, and he'll presumably be the youngest player on the 15-man roster again next season. On most teams, a multi-year commitment to a rising talent would equate to ample playing time, but the Lakers have their eye on an NBA title and reloaded in the backcourt this summer, adding Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk and Rajon Rondo. As such, Horton-Tucker may struggle to carve out enough playing time to make him a viable fantasy option.

A second-round pick out of Iowa State in 2019, Horton-Tucker spent much of his rookie season in the G League, but he made the most of his opportunities at the NBA level. Horton-Tucker appeared in four consecutive seeding games in the NBA bubble, logging three double-digit scoring performances, including a 14-point, four-rebound, three-assist, three-steal performance in the Lakers' final tune-up before the playoffs. Entering Year 2, the 20-year-old has drawn rave reviews from his Lakers teammates, as well as the coaching staff. With a pair of impressive preseason performances under his belt, Horton-Tucker has the makings of a potential second-round steal. The question is whether he'll find consistent minutes for the Lakers, who added more depth in the offseason. In the short term, Horton-Tucker is more of a draft-and-stash candidate, but his long-term upside is extremely intriguing.

A 6-foot-4, 237-pound freshman out of Iowa State, Horton-Tucker landed on the Lakers with the 46th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team, Horton-Tucker averaged 11.8 points on 10.9 shots, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals across 27.2 minutes, starting 34 of his 35 appearances. Arguably his best game against an in-conference opponent occurred during an 83-66 victory over Butler in the Big 12 Tournament, with Horton-Tucker posting 21 points on 15 shots, four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal in 35 minutes. Considering the Lakers have a deep wing rotation and are in win-now mode, it seems unlikely Horton-Tucker will secure a spot as an every-night player. There's a strong chance he sees most of his minutes in the G League as a rookie.