On June 30, renowned sports journalist Shams Charania revealed that the Golden State Warriors are prepared for the possibility of Klay Thompson entering free agency, while the Los Angeles Lakers have also joined the race for the sharpshooter.
Earlier, LeBron James had opted out of his contract for the upcoming season, making him a free agent, but he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers. According to Dave McMenamin, another well-known sports journalist, James is willing to take a pay cut to facilitate the signing of players like James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas.
McMenamin’s report states, “Sources tell me that the type of player for whom James would be willing to make an economic sacrifice is a seasoned veteran like Harden or Thompson, or a mature big man like Valanciunas to complement Anthony Davis.”
Furthermore, James “would like” the Lakers to make a more attractive offer than the Dallas Mavericks for Thompson. The Los Angeles Clippers are another Western Conference team with strong interest in the guard. Other franchises, such as the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, have also been linked to Thompson.