The team announced Thursday that the Los Angeles Lakers have made what promises to be a busy off-season by making a qualifying offer to second-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker.
The qualifying offer for Horton-Tucker is $1.9 million, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, and would make the 20-year-old a banned free agent, making the Lakers retain their former second-round pick to match any outside offers. Will be able to do it.
Los Angeles have the rights to the Early Bird and may re-sign Horton-Tucker to a contract that, according to Marks, is set to start at $10.4 million. The contract must last at least two seasons.
Horton-Tucker averaged 9.0 points on 45.8% shooting last season with 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in more than 20 minutes per game.
The Iowa State product progressed into its second year in the league, memorably filling the box score with 14 points, 11 assists and three steals in a road win over the Brooklyn Nets in April and playing 13 games when it scored 15 points or more. Scored, during which the Lakers had an 8-5 record.