Lakers rumors: Pros and cons of potentially signing Klay Thompson in free agency

Con: Age & Injury History

The single biggest hurdle for the Los Angeles Lakers to make peace with is the combination of age and injuries that has every NBA team at least somewhat reluctant to reach out. There's no denying that Klay Thompson has an offensive game that should continue to age well, but his defense may decline.

If the Lakers are hoping to add a true 3-and-D wing to the roster, then there must be some level of understanding of what Thompson has endured and what he still has left in the tank.

Between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, Thompson appeared in just 32 games. It was a devastating period in his career, as he tore his left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and tore his right Achilles tendon in a pickup game in 2020.

Losing the better part of three years of his career would've been difficult at any age, but it just so happened to transpire as he was entering his 30s.

The unique longevity of LeBron James may suggest otherwise, but players rarely thrive deep into their 30s. Thompson managed to play relatively well in 2022-23 and 2023-24, but it's fair to question how much longer he can go as a 34-year-old wing with two serious injuries behind him.

This might be easier to overlook for another team, but considering James is soon to turn 40 and Anthony Davis is 31 with an injury history of his own, it may be too much of a risk for the Lakers.