(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
This is the end of an era for the Golden State Warriors.
Most signs point to Klay Thompson leaving the team that drafted and developed him, and he should have no shortage of suitors in free agency.
Unsurprisingly, that includes the Los Angeles Lakers, although the Dallas Mavericks are also expected to be heavy players for his services.
With that in mind, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that LeBron James seriously hopes that Rob Pelinka and the Lakers will be able to lure Thompson and outbid the Mavericks for his services (via NBA Central).
LeBron James is ‘hopeful’ the Lakers will be able to outbid the Mavericks for Klay Thompson’s services, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/cwLxuNfMAv
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 29, 2024
Thompson is no longer the elite backcourt defender he used to be.
He’s lost a step when it comes to moving laterally.
However, he’s still one of the greatest shooters this game has ever seen, and he could benefit from having a coach like JJ Redick, as he could mold him into that kind of role for the final stage of his career.
Also, there are obvious ties between Thompson and the Lakers organization.
His father Mychal was a part of the Showtime Lakers and he grew up rooting for them before becoming a Warrior.
Thompson’s shooting could seriously help the Lakers stretch the floor, which was clearly a point of emphasis for them when they took Dalton Knecht in the NBA Draft.
The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers will also reportedly be in the running to sign him, so it’ll be interesting to see how much money he can get and where he’s going to end up.
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