LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to figure themselves out. They have title aspirations but lack the roster to support them. The Lakers could sign Klay Thompson to bridge that gap.
Lakers Poised To Land Klay Thompson In Shock Reunion
Los Angeles sits fifth in the West with a 27–17 record. They opened the season hot and stood 11 games over .500. The good vibes from their seven-game winning streak in November feel distant. It feels like a different season.
A Team With Clear Flaws
The Lakers have several fatal flaws. The most obvious is their defense. They own a borderline bottom-five unit on that end, ranked 25th. Another damaging flaw is their three-point shooting. Los Angeles make threes at the eighth-worst rate. They still rank eighth on offense. That is why the Lakers should look to Dallas for Klay Thompson.
This season, Klay averages 12 points in 22 minutes while shooting 38 percent from the field and from three. For his career, he shoots the three-ball at a 40% clip. He remains one of the league’s premier high-volume shooters. Los Angeles desperately needs that skill set.
Dallas’ Draft Motivation
The Mavericks sit outside the Play-In spots. They trail the Clippers by two and a half games for the final spot. They are quietly tanking this season. Their first-rounder this year is the last they will control for the foreseeable future. This approach gives them a chance to land a top-five pick in a historic draft.
Financial Pressure Creates Opportunity
That ideal scenario conflicts with Dallas’ financial situation. The Mavs sit just one million dollars below the second apron. They are deep into the tax and face a repeater penalty. Trading Thompson’s contract gives them needed flexibility this season and next.
Klay Thompson on the Lakers would reunite him with Luka Dončić. It is important to remember that Thompson joined the Mavs, at the Lakers’ expense, to team up with Luka. It would be poetic for him to do so now in Los Angeles. Klay’s contract expires in 2027. That timeline fits the Lakers’ plans to build a contender around Luka that summer.
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