Every offseason, the Lakers are reported to be chasing an extensive list of big names, and every offseason, they fall short. This familiar script appears to be repeating this summer too.

The Lakers have been linked to everyone from Trae Young, to Donovan Mitchell, to Klay Thompson.

But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are up against it when it comes to making moves.

“It’s a very limited market out there,” Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter on Wednesday. “It’s a limited trade market unless you want to put draft picks with contracts to get money off, you’re going to have trouble really adding to your roster.

“I don’t expect the Lakers to look a whole lot different on opening night than they do now. There’s some moves around the edges, (but) I don’t sense there’s a big impact move out there for the Lakers or very many teams right now.”

LA missing out on Thompson was especially rough considering they offered him more money than the Mavericks. But he chose Dallas anyway because of the Mavs’ ability to compete for a championship and Texas’ lack of income tax.

The Lakers were even knocked back by the man who was supposedly their number one coaching target, UConn’s Dan Hurley. After flying to LA and meeting with the team, Hurley chose to stay with the Huskies.

The last time the Lakers landed a true superstar was when they acquired Anthony Davis in 2019. In fairness, that move did lead to a championship the following season.

But since then, the franchise appears to have slipped a long way from the days when they could seemingly sign whoever they wanted.

Their one potential saving grace this offseason would be if they managed to sign DeMar DeRozan, the clear-cut best remaining free agent on the market.

A 34-year-old DeRozan won’t make the Lakers legitimate contenders, but it would save face for a front office under immense pressure to get LeBron James some additional help in the final years of his career.

READ MORE: Bronny James Addresses Doubters in First Day With Lakers

Why Everyone Is Wrong About Bronny James’ Contract

POSTED ON JULY 3, 2024 BY JORDAN SAVILLE

Bronny James is no stranger to criticism, and he started taking even more heat online on Wednesday when ESPN reported that his contract would be a four-year deal worth $7.9 million.

Twitter (X) immediately blew up with folks in disbelief that someone drafted 55th overall would be given a four-year deal, with the cries of nepotism reaching fever pitch.

But NBA insider Sam Vecenie of The Athletic was quick to push back against that narrative.

“Guys, Bronny’s contract is not out of line with other picks in the 50s for teams looking to save money,” he tweeted. “Chris Livingston got 4 yrs, multiple guaranteed years at 58th in 2023. “TJD got the same at 57. Camara got the same at 52. This does happen.

“I’ve probably been among the more public draft folks out there saying that I don’t love Bronny as a player and think this whole thing is wild, but truly: Bronny or any other player getting this deal when selected this low is more a function of salary cap/new CBA than his game.”

While Bronny’s deal is not unheard of, it’s also true that many second-round picks are offered much less, such as short-term non-guaranteed contracts.

However, Bronny won’t have everything easy next season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he’ll spend the majority of the year in the G League.

In the immediate term, Bronny will make his Summer League debut for the Lakers against the Sacramento Kings in the California Classic on Saturday.

READ MORE: Bronny James Addresses Doubters in First Day With Lakers

Bronny James Addresses Doubters in First Day With Lakers

POSTED ON JULY 2, 2024 BY JORDAN SAVILLE

Bronny James being drafted by the Lakers was always going to attract intense criticism and cries of nepotism.

James says he’s aware of what’s being said about him online and addressed the criticism during his first official day on the job with the Lakers on Tuesday.

“I’ve already seen it on social media and stuff, and the internet and stuff and talking about that I might not deserve an opportunity,” he said. “But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. So it’s nothing different, but it’s more amplified, for sure. But I’ll get through it.”

Bronny also said that playing with his father was not part of his decision to declare for the draft this year, after just spending just one season in college.

“Rob (Pelinka) has told me that there’s a great development system here, so I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day,” he said. “I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad. But that’s always there to take part of. But that wasn’t the main focus of mine.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was quick to insist that Bronny’s spot on the team had been earned, not given.

“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said. “Bronny has earned this. … Bronny has earned this through hard work.”

James’ contract is expected to be finalised before the Lakers begin their Summer League campaign at the California Class on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Bronny’s agent, Rich Paul, and the Lakers have discussed a multiyear contract that would secure a roster spot for the incoming rookie.

Paul had previously said he would not entertain a two-way deal for Bronny.

READ MORE: Bronny James Ghosted Every Team Other Than Lakers and Suns Before The Draft

Mychal Thompson Reacts to Klay Signing With Mavs Over Lakers

POSTED ON JULY 2, 2024 BY SAM PASFIELD

The Thompson family have a long association with the Lakers and Klay Thompson had the opportunity to sign with the franchise, yet he chose the Mavericks.

Klay’s dad, Mychal Thompson, is a two-time NBA champion with the Showtime Lakers and is currently the team’s radio color commentator.

So he thought the most logical choice for Klay was a move to LA.

“He grew up a Laker fan. He grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant like most players his age, most kids his age,” Mychal said on Sirius XM NBA Radio. “So I just thought it seemed to be the perfect fit for him to finally come back home, ‘cause we always talked about him playing for the Lakers if he was not a Golden State Warrior, where else would he want to play?”

Thompson ended his historic 13-season run with Golden State and agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks on Monday. Much to his dad’s dismay.

“I mean, obviously, it’s Klay’s decision, it’s his life, he’s a grown man, 34 years of age,” Thompson said. “Just like we were 34 one time and our fathers used to give us advice and, you know, we would choose our own path. And that’s fine, that’s what life is supposed to be about.

“But I’m really disappointed. I was hoping, hoping, as you can assess, that he would be a Laker. It was close, it came down to the Lakers and the Mavs, but the Mavs won out. But you know me, I was hoping and praying he’d finish his career with the Lakers.”

Mychal added, “I’ll live with it, I accept it and I’m happy for him that he’s happy with his decision, but yeah, of course I tried to sell him on the Lakers.”

Instead of coming off the bench like he did for 14 games in the 2023-24 season for the Warriors, Klay will slot nicely into the Mavs’ starting five, alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.

READ MORE: Why Klay Thompson Chose Mavericks Over Lakers in Free Agency

How Things Turned Sour Between Klay Thompson and the Warriors

POSTED ON JULY 2, 2024 BY NICK JUNGFER

After a wildly successful 13-year run featuring four championships and an unstoppable dynasty, it’s hard to imagine Klay Thompson playing for any team other than the Golden State Warriors.

And yet here we are, with Thompson signing a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

But how did we go from Thompson and the Warriors being a match made in heaven to a divorce that once seemed unthinkable?

Let’s break down how this whole thing fell apart.

Of course, the central issue here is money. In simple terms, Thompson is nowhere near the player he once was, so the Warriors were reluctant to offer him a big contract.

This really rubbed Thompson the wrong way, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

“I know firsthand that Klay [Thompson] is disappointed in where negotiations have gotten to this point, to the fact that he’s looking elsewhere,” Haynes said on NBA TV ahead of Thompson signing with Dallas.

“… I believe the Warriors are probably offering him annually a low $20 million-type of contract. Is he willing to walk away from that because he feels disrespected? It looks like he is.”

We may never know whether Thompson was in denial over his declining abilities or simply believed he deserved a greater payday based on past accomplishments. Either way, the end result was the same: a pissed-off Klay Thompson who was prepared to pack his bags, which is exactly what he did.

In addition to the financial side, the Warriors were planning to bring Thompson off the bench if he returned next season, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.

At this point, it’s clear that Thompson would have viewed this as an additional slap in the face.

But there was another factor at play here too. According to San Francisco-based reporter Jason Dumas of KRON4 News, Thompson could be just as draining behind the scenes as Draymond Green,

“The last three years I know Draymond has punched people and got himself suspended on the court… but Klay has been equally exhausting behind the scenes. It’s not as loud,” Jason Dumas said on 95.7 The Game.

“… It’s not as loud because it’s not you stomping on someone’s chest. If he’s slamming stuff on the bench and sulking, and doing that on the court, how do you think it is in practice? How do you think it is in the locker room? It has been uncomfortable — it has. It just doesn’t come out as loudly as Draymond Green.”

In the end, Thompson landed in a favourable position with the Mavericks, a team fresh off a trip to the Finals. The Warriors, on the other hand, are in a more difficult position.

 

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