Lakers Identified as Potential Destination for Klay Thompson

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently seeking to enhance their roster, particularly in the area of three-point shooting. Last season, the team found itself ranking 14th in shooting percentage from beyond the arc and 24th in the number of attempts. Besides their trio of star players, they only have two reliable three-point shooters in their rotation: Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura, both of whom are approaching free agency.

Some analysts believe that to elevate the Lakers to championship contention, they should follow a blueprint similar to that of the Dallas Mavericks, who have effectively built their team around Luka Dončić. This strategy includes acquiring a rim-protecting center who can also serve as a lob threat, and potentially recruiting players who have previously teamed up with Dončić.

James Piercey from the Dallas Hoops Journal recently suggested that the Mavericks might consider trading Klay Thompson, citing a misalignment with their current timeline. He highlighted the Lakers as one of three "logical fits" for Thompson, alongside the Houston Rockets and his original team, the Golden State Warriors. "Thompson’s reason for joining the Mavericks is worth recalling," Piercey noted, explaining that he signed with Dallas in 2024 to partner with Dončić, who was later traded, leaving Thompson on a team in rebuilding mode.

A move to Los Angeles would not only reunite Thompson with Dončić but also offer the Lakers a chance to improve their spacing on the court. While the Lakers may not have as much draft capital as the Rockets, they could potentially include player Dalton Knecht to make their offer more appealing. Additionally, the Lakers have been connected to Daniel Gafford, which could create opportunities for trade negotiations between the two franchises.

Despite being 36 years old, Thompson remains a significant threat from three-point range, having shot 38.3% on 7.6 attempts per game this past season. However, his overall performance has declined since suffering ACL and Achilles injuries. This season, his shooting percentage dipped to a career-low 39.3%, and he averaged just 11.7 points per game, which marks a significant drop from his previous standards.