A few years ago, a second-round draft pick entering his early 20s garnered a ton of praise from the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office as well as the fans. This player was hyped up to be the next big thing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers put a lot of stock into this hype, making said player virtually untouchable in trade discussions. That player, Talen Horton-Tucker, failed to deliver for the franchise in the 2021-22 season, forcing them to pivot and trade him last summer.
That memory is a fair reason for Lakers fans to be cautious when it comes to their excitement for Max Christie, a guard who finds himself in a similar position as Horton-Tucker was three years ago.