Lakers and Rockets named top trade landing spots for former $190 million legendary 3-point shooter
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Lakers and Rockets named top trade landing spots for former $190 million legendary 3-point shooter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are two Western Conference contenders with a need for three-point shooting.
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Los Angeles could lose three-point specialist Rui Hachimura in free agency, and it would be wise for the team to replace him with an elite shooter who can pair well with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, assuming he returns.
As for Houston, as long as Amen Thompson doesn't develop a three-point shot, the Rockets will need to have a versatile arsenal of floor stretchers to make up for it.
With the Lakers and Rockets likely in the market for a shooter, both teams have been linked to a four-time NBA champion who has ties to both organization's star players.
Lakers and Rockets named top trade landing spots for Klay Thompson
Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters lists the Lakers and Rockets as the top landing spots for Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson, who could be on the move this offseason after two underwhelming years in Dallas.
"If the Mavs can take some of the financial burden off of Thompson's contract, he could be a fit for the Lakers as they look to make a title run. The Rockets had the defensive makeup of a championship team last season, but their offensive shortcomings were noticeable, especially in the playoffs. Houston ranked last in three-point percentage in the postseason, a stat Thompson could improve," Peters wrote.
It's no secret that Thompson is past his prime and likely has only a few years remaining in the league. However, the four-time NBA champion is still one of the better three-point shooters in the sport and averaged nearly 12 points per game in a limited role last year.
Thompson is in the final season of a three-year, $50 million deal he signed with the Mavericks during the 2024 offseason, so trading for him wouldn't carry much risk at all for the future. With Dallas bringing in a new head coach in Dusty May, the Mavericks could look to trade the 2011 No. 11 overall pick and retool the roster around franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Los Angeles has always been mentioned as a possible destination for Thompson, as his dad played for the Lakers and is currently a color commentator for the franchise.
Thompson would be a downgrade from Hachimura, but the five-time All-Star would bring valuable playoff experience to the Lakers and knows how to play with Doncic. Thompson would be a pivotal bench piece for Los Angeles with his shooting, and he is also still a viable perimeter defender.
A reunion with Kevin Durant in Houston would also make sense for Thompson. The 36-year-old would be fantastic backcourt depth behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson, and address one of the Rockets' top needs.
Overall, Thompson isn't the elite two-way player he once was with the Golden State Warriors, but the future Hall of Famer can still be a valuable part of a playoff-contending team, so the Lakers and Rockers should explore his market this summer.