This summer, Klay Thompson may be leaving the Golden State Warriors organization and joining one of their fiercest rivals, if his wishes are to be fulfilled.
On Monday, June 17th, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on “First Take” that Thompson would “love” to play his last years with the Los Angeles Lakers.”Klay would love to be in Los Angeles in an ideal world,” Smith stated. It is common knowledge. I’m referring to the Los Angeles Lakers. Could you even begin to fathom?”
Mychal Thompson was an NBA player for thirteen seasons; he is Thompson’s father. Two of his NBA championship rings came during his last four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.\
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Despite Being аn NBа Stаrter, Klаy Thоmpsоn’s Wоrth Remаins HighThe best the Lаkers fаns cаn hоpe fоr is thаt they mаy speculаte аbоut the situаtiоn, which is either bаd news оr gооd news depending оn their perspective оn Thоmpsоn’s relаtive deteriоrаtiоn since 2019 when he suffered bаck-tо-bаck аCL аnd аchilles prоblems thаt kept him оut fоr neаrly twо yeаrs.
Additional information was provided by Smith, who mentioned that the addition of Thompson is highly unlikely due to the wage cap restrictions in Los Angeles. Smith elaborated by saying that, given the Knicks’ cap room and free agency demands this summer, the team is more likely to be Thompson’s destination.
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Thompson, who played with Stephen Curry, the two-time MVP, averaged 22.3 points per game and shot 40.2%-44% from outside the arc on 7.1-8.3 attempts over the course of those five seasons.
As reported by Basketball Reference, Thompson, who is now 34 years old, had a career year of 17.9 ppg and 38.7 % from beyond the arc in 2023–24. However, considering the league-wide increase in salaries and the impending new television deals, Thompson is a valuable asset as a possible third or fourth starter for a playoff-caliber team due to his floor-spacing abilities and his ability to go off offensively on any given night.
This is especially true in the Easter Conference, where rivalry is far milder compared to what it is in the West.