Los Angeles Lakers: Five reasons to go after Klay Thompson this summer
By Ethan Temkin
2. Luke Walton already has experience coaching him.
Luke Walton is from the Steve Kerr coaching tree, winning a title as an assistant coach in 2015, and being promoted to lead assistant in 2016, leading the Warriors to a 24-0 start in the wake of Steve Kerr’s absence.
Because of this, it shouldn’t be too hard for the coach to plug Thompson into the lineup and use him as effectively as Golden State has.
Although Walton runs a different kind of offense to Kerr, one that prioritizes transition offense, and a steady diet of pick-and-roll with LeBron, Klay has proven to be the type of player to find success no matter what he’s being asked to do. It’s also hard to imagine Walton not changing up his offensive scheme to get the most out of a player he’s coached before.
In addition to having familiarity with the Laker’s coach, Klay’s father Mychal is also part of the Laker family, both as a former player, and current radio analyst with John Ireland.
For Klay, he seems to prioritize comfort above all else, and the Lakers are one of the few teams outside of Golden State that can offer him that.