Los Angeles Lakers youngster Talen Horton-Tucker is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, and if an NBA executive is to be believed, LA might need to throw some serious money to retain the guard.

In a report by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, a current Eastern Conference team executive expressed belief that Horton-Tucker is a “max” contract player.

At 20, he's only a year or two older than some of the top prospects—Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Suggs—in July's NBA draft. “I'd max him out,” an Eastern Conference executive said.

Horton-Tucker can earn up to roughly $83 million over the next four years, but only if a team has the cap room to give him an Arenas rule offer sheet as a restricted free agent. (The cited executive does not have the necessary cap space to make that max offer.)

Talen Horton-Tucker has improved tremendously in his second season with the Lakers, averaging 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 20.1 minutes of play per game during the 2020-21 regular season. He has also recorded several impressive games, including a 24-point game against the Utah Jazz last April.

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Considering that he is only 20 years old with championship experience and proven potential, several teams are expected to give him an offer sheet in an attempt to get him out of LA. While it  remains to be seen if he would get a max offer that would force the Lakers' hands, there is no doubt he is expected to get a significant pay raise from the $1.8 million qualifying offer the Purple and Gold can give him.

There are talks THT can be used as a trade bait for the Lakers to land Damian Lillard, but the question remains if the Lakers can even retain his services.

It will be interesting to see what the Lakers will do with THT, especially as they try to build a contender to max out the remaining peak years of LeBron James.