Weaknesses
Of course, the problem with an upside pick like Horton-Tucker is the high variance attached to the potential outcomes. The physical attributes that make Horton-Tucker different and give him an opportunity to pave an entirely new path, could also be ones that quickly leads him out of the NBA.
Perhaps unsurprisingly considering his formidable frame, Horton-Tucker is far from the quickest player. That applies to his limited lateral movement defensively, but also to his reduced ability to burst out in transition.
As a comfortable ball-handler and strong rebounder, Horton-Tucker is a natural fit to be asked to initiate breaks, but he doesn’t quite boast the burst that’s required for such a role at the NBA level and is unlikely to barrel through pros with the same ease he did with his defenders in college.
Horton-Tucker’s physical tools give him the potential to play multiple positions, but realistically his pace may dictate that he needs to guard bigger positions where he’ll give up a major height advantage. His wingspan should certainly help to level the playing field in those scenarios, but it’s still far from a comfortable matchup.
Elsewhere on the defensive end, the potential Horton-Tucker has may be undermined by his own drive, though. Horton-Tucker presents as a far from tenacious, and even occasionally lackadaisical defender. Some have posited that may be a product of the environment he found himself in at Iowa State, but betting on that being the case may well be a risk for an NBA team.
If his effort raises questions over Horton-Tucker’s attitude, a recent misdemeanor theft incident certainly won’t improve the wider perception on that front. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, Horton-Tucker admitted the incident has come up during the interview process:
"“It’s something that teams talked about (with me). I’m not supposed to discuss it right now. I don’t think stealing is good. (The incident) will only hurt me.”"
Back on the court, Horton-Tucker’s future could hinge on his ability to develop a more consistent jump shot. Having made just 30.8 percent of his three-point attempts as a freshman, Horton-Tucker will need to make major strides if he hopes to log minutes on the wing in the NBA.