On Wednesday, former second-round pick Talen Horton-Tucker “agreed to a partially guaranteed deal” with the rebuilding Chicago Bulls, per The Athletic insider Shams Charania.
Free agent guard Talen Horton-Tucker has agreed to a partially guaranteed deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell @TheAthletic. The Chicago native returns home and will have an opportunity to make Bulls roster after averaging 10.5 points over the last two seasons in Utah. pic.twitter.com/YPoIfrurh7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 4, 2024
Horton-Tucker graduated from Simeon Career Academy, located on the Southside of the Chicago, after leading the program to three consecutive City Championships. If he should make the 15-man roster, he’ll join Matas Buzelis and Ayo Dosunmu as the team’s homegrown talents.
The five-year veteran holds career averages of 9.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. While playing with the Los Angeles Lakers during his rookie season, he was able to win a championship in the NBA Bubble. As a result, he’d be the Bulls’ only rostered title-winner.
Talen Horton-Tucker Agrees To Contract With Bulls
The Bulls have been quiet since their failed trades of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Most likely, Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas has been working behind the scenes to get a deal done. With Chicago now buying into a youth movement, their focus is now on player development rather than the playoffs. As the Bulls don’t have control over their 2025 first-round pick, there’s no point in them tanking. Nonetheless, Chicago is looking to reset after a few fruitless seasons.
That makes players like Horton-Tucker a solid addition. At 23 years old, he’s more than young enough to grow with their core. With that being said, if he’s able to run with the Bulls past next season, he might really soar. Chicago has four perimeter players whose contracts expire at the end of the season. They have another (LaVine) that they’re hoping to move.
The Last Word On Talen Horton-Tucker
Horton-Tucker is still looking for a long-term contract. 2024-25 might not be his year due the Bulls’ wing depth. However, if he plays the long game, he might be able to stick in Chicago for a while.
Signing a two-way contract with the Bulls might be best in order to ensure he maximizes his potential playing time. While Horton-Tucker is a talented player, the reality is that he’s far too inconsistent in every area of the game. He’s also a player without a natural position. He has the playmaking potential of a point guard, the mindset of a shooting guard, and the physique of an undersized small forward.
Working on his defense, diet, and 3-point shooting will go a long way towards him having a long career.
