Even though the Los Angeles Lakers already have 16 guaranteed contracts on the roster, the team is believed to be still exploring moves to add players whom they believe can improve the team. Now, a player the team has pursued in the past is emerging as a potential addition this offseason in wing Klay Thompson.
Like the Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks also have too many guaranteed players under contract and will need to swing a deal in order to get down to 15. And according to Christian Clark of The Athletic, Thompson would be open to a deal that sends him to Los Angeles:
My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.
Of course Klay’s father is Mychal Thompson, who won two championships with the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s and also serves as the team’s radio analyst. The Lakers strongly pursued Thompson when he was a free agent in 2024, but he decided to sign with the Mavericks instead to team up with Luka Doncic.
While Thompson is no longer the player he was during his peak years with the Golden State Warriors, particularly on the defensive end as the torn ACL and ruptured Achilles injuries he suffered in 2019 and 2020 greatly affected his quickness, he remains one of the best shooters in the NBA. While Thompson technically shot a career-low from deep last season, that number was still 38.3% on more than seven attempts per game, which shows just how elite he is.
The question would be what it would take for the Lakers to acquire him should that be something they want to do. The Lakers have the salaries to make it work, but with Thompson in the final year of his deal, the front office would likely be hesitant to include too much in terms of draft capital. Regardless, Thompson is another name to watch as this front office continues to try and round out the roster, especially if he ends up getting bought out.
Lakers considered potential trade partner for big man Jericho Sims
Adding shooting is always something the Lakers are considering, but the team is also known to be in the market for another center to improve their depth. And one name that has popped up as a potential player the team could add is Milwaukee Bucks big man Jericho Sims.
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