Controversial Media Figure Links Lakers to Klay Thompson as Free Agency Looms

The Los Angeles Lakers will do everything in their power to improve their roster for next season. That includes being aggressive on the trade market and in free agency. Because they are the Lakers, a lot of players will be linked to them, whether it is reasonable or not.

One of those players is Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors. The 34-year-old sharpshooter is heading for unrestricted free agency and due to his Los Angeles connections, the Lakers have long been considered an option.

Stephen A. Smith highlighted the possibility that Thompson would join the Lakers in his latest TV appearance. According to the polarizing media figure, Klay would prefer to be in Los Angeles.

"In a perfect world Klay would love to be in Los Angeles. We all know that. I'm talking about the Lakers. I mean, could you imagine? There's no space, they can't do it, but that's where he'd love to be. "

- Stephen A. Smith, First Take

Klay Thompson was born in LA while his father Mychal was a member of the Lakers, winning two NBA championships. Klay naturally grew up a Lakers fan, so the speculations make a ton of sense.

It's also true that the Lakers likely don't have the financial flexibility to make this happen. Either Klay takes a significant pay cut and joins the Lakers on a below-market deal or the Lakers and the Warriors engage in a sign-and-trade.

The Lakers have the salaries like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, or Jarred Vanderbilt to send to Golden State in a potential sign-and-trade. Whether the Warriors would help their division rivals in such a deal is another question.

Perhaps if Thompson really wanted to go to the Lakers and pressured the Warriors to make it happen, they probably owe it to the five-time All-Star to do so.

The door to a potential Thompson signing is certainly not closed but Klay, the Lakers, and the Warriors all need to get creative and play ball and that doesn't seem super likely.

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