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Lakers report card: Talen Horton-Tucker

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 04: Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) drives on the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Over the next week The Times will conduct exit evaluations of the Lakers’ roster, player by player. Today’s group includes a look at guard Talen Horton-Tucker's key stats, contract status, preseason expectations, current reality and what the future holds.

Key stats: Scored a career-high 40 points on an efficient 15-for-28 shooting recently against the Warriors.

Contract status: $10.2 million next season, the second of a three-year, $30-million deal.

The expectations on Oct. 19: The Lakers viewed Horton-Tucker as a key rotation player with the ability to create for himself and others.

The reality on April 10: He didn’t quite grow as the Lakers hoped, especially on defense.

The future: He’s just 21, coachable, works hard and wants to improve.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.