The Lakers are a hot topic as free agency begins, so we have assembled the main rumors and talking points. Here’s everything you need to know:
KLAY THOMPSON
There has been a lot of buzz around Klay Thompson potentially joining the Lakers, especially since ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that LeBron James picked up the phone to recruit him the minute free agency began.
“I’m told LeBron James called Klay Thompson right when free agency opened at 6 p.m. ET, reached out and talked to Klay Thompson,” Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter on Sunday. “The expectation that I have right now is these conversations, this negotiation will go into tomorrow. There probably will not be a resolution tonight.”
Woj added that the Lakers, Clippers and Mavericks were “working to be involved in this”.
If LA can offer Thompson an amount he is happy with, it figures to be an especially appealing option for him. The four-time champ grew up in LA and his father Mychal Thompson played for the purple and gold.
The potential move would also allow Klay to continue enjoying the California lifestyle that he seems to relish so much, at least according to his social media activity.
D’ANGELO RUSSELL TRADE
D’Angelo Russell opting into his contract gives the Lakers a handy trade chip, and according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, they’ll be looking to use it.
“I’ve been told the Lakers are going to be aggressive in pursuing potential trades for [D’Angelo Russell],” Buha reported.
It remains to be seen which teams LA is engaging (or hoping to engage) in trade talks around Russell.
POTENTIAL WING ADDITIONS
The Lakers are looking for wing players and could seek to land one in a potential D’Angelo Russell trade, according to Jovan Buha.
“There are good options potentially out there,” Buha reported. “Wings such as Portland’s Jerami Grant, former Lakers player Kyle Kuzma and the Nets’ duo of Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson are expected to be available on the trade market, according to league sources.”
It’s worth noting that these players aren’t specifically linked to the Lakers, but are merely some possible candidates due to their likely availability and positional fit.
