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Lakers Eyeing Thompson if Bought Out
16 Aug
Summary
- Lakers may pursue Klay Thompson if he's bought out.
- Kuminga's contract demands have cooled Lakers' pursuit.
- Thompson seeks a veteran minimum deal with LA.
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly considering adding Klay Thompson to their roster this summer, but only if he is bought out by his current team and becomes a free agent. This interest comes as their pursuit of forward Jonathan Kuminga appears to have cooled, potentially due to Kuminga's substantial contract demands.
Thompson, who has one year remaining on his contract worth $17.46 million, is said to welcome a return to Los Angeles, a city where he lived during his childhood. However, the Dallas Mavericks are reportedly resistant to buying out his contract. If Thompson were to become available, the Lakers, along with the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, are said to be interested.
Given the Lakers' salary cap limitations, they would only be able to offer Thompson a veteran minimum contract. Despite his age and recent injury history, the 36-year-old Thompson remains a capable 3-point shooter, though his defensive capabilities have diminished since his ACL and Achilles injuries in 2019 and 2020. Last season, he averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.3% from beyond the arc.
