Could the Los Angeles Lakers create the NBA's next superteam?
If the Lakers land Anthony Davis and the Golden State Warriors don't offer Klay Thompson a maximum contract this summer, the two-way shooting guard would turn his attention to joining LeBron James and Davis, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said Monday night on "SportsCenter," citing a source.
Those two variables are obviously significant. Davis doesn't control his immediate future, and although the five-time All-Star announced on Monday that he's not interested in re-signing with the New Orleans Pelicans, he's still under contract with the team until the end of next season.
The Pelicans will undoubtedly work to recoup as much value as possible in a trade. There's no guarantee the Lakers will capitulate to the Pelicans' demands, which reportedly include Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, and a first-round pick.
The second contingency is whether the Warriors neglect to offer Thompson, a four-time All-Star, a maximum contract. The potential for that deal hinges on what happens with fellow free agent Kevin Durant. If Durant decides to move on, the Warriors would have more financial flexibility to retain Thompson at a higher salary.
Thompson has long been linked to his hometown of Los Angeles. His father, Mychal Thompson, played a supporting role on two of the Showtime Lakers' title-winning campaigns in the late 1980s, and he now works as a radio broadcaster covering the team.
Further fueling speculation about an L.A. homecoming, Thompson told reporters in October he thought it was "pretty cool" that James signed with the team this past summer.
