Bad Break For Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker Undergoes Surgery

 

The Los Angeles Lakers value 20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker as a key piece of their future; they signed him to a 3-year, $32 million dollar extension in the offseason, and he was expected to take on a larger role with the team this season. Now, that will have to wait, as Horton-Tucker will be undergoing thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament.

Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker has a torn ligament in his right thumb and will undergo surgery, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2021

Horton-Tucker turns 21 next month—a veritable spring chicken on a roster with a league-high average age over 30. He had been the Lakers' second-leading scorer in the preseason, averaging 12.7 points. According to Sports Injury Expert Jeff Stotts, an injury like this could cost THT seven weeks, or up to about 26 games. Ouch.

Re: Horton-Tucker: Average lost time following surgery for an in-season ligament tear of the thumb is 26 games (~7 weeks) though the number has improved in recent seasons. Capela, CP3, and Marcus Smart all returned after missing an average of 15 games.

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) October 11, 2021

As per ESPN, it's the second significant injury in a week for the beleaguered team, as Trevor Ariza's ankle injury (and resultant surgery) will keep him out of the lineup for two months. 

The Lakers went on a signing spree this offseason, bringing in ten free agents... A good thing since so much of the "well-aged" roster is on the 'back nine' of their careers, and will likely be keeping team trainers and doctors plenty busy. 

It doesn't help, though, when now even the youngest player on the team goes down. 

Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports