Los Angeles Lakers: Five reasons to go after Klay Thompson this summer
By Ethan Temkin
5. He’s the ideal player to put next to LeBron James.
It’s no secret that Klay is one of the best shooters in the NBA. In addition to his tremendous shooting ability is the fact that he’s an incredible off-ball player, who is able to make smart cuts, use screens effectively, and can get his shot off quickly.
All of these attributes make him the perfect fit next to LeBron, who is at his best when he’s able to quarterback the offense with the ball in his hands, while others cut, screen, and spread the floor. Imagining Klay coming off a pin-down screen from Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball only for LeBron to throw him a perfect pass for a three is the stuff dreams are made of.
We’ve seen time and time again that surrounding LeBron with players who can shoot the ball effectively is a perfect recipe for a top-tier offense, and adding Klay Thompson to the mix will only make the Lakers’ offense more potent.
In addition to his elite shooting ability, Klay is also a lock-down defensive player and is fully capable of guarding the other team’s best wing night-in and night-out. This would surely lighten the load for LeBron during the season, and would further fortify the Laker’s defense.