After Losing Klay Thompson To Mavs, Lakers Switch Focus To New Star

The Los Angeles Lakers had high hopes that they would be able to sign Klay Thompson this offseason. LeBron James even personally reached out to Thompson as soon as free agency commenced in an effort to sell him on coming to L.A.

Unfortunately, much as they previously did when Kyrie Irving was available, the Dallas Mavericks swooped in and stole him away.

Now. L.A. is moving on. Priority one is re-signing two key players Jeanie Buss and Co. can’t afford to lose. Priority two was putting four expendable players on the track block. Of that group, D’Angelo Russell is set to be traded at some point in the next day or so.

After that, though? According to multiple reports, the Lakers have shifted their attention to a new star.

That star? Los Angeles native, DeMar DeRozan. A few weeks after revealing whether or not he would be willing to give the Lakers a hometown discount, the 34-year-old’s desire to return to L.A. will be put to the test.

According to Brian Windhorst, DeRozan is one of the few players James would be willing to give up some money for in his next contract.

“LeBron and Rich Paul met with the Lakers on this topic last week and they agreed, from what I am told, on a short list of players that LeBron would feel good about taking less money to get on the Lakers and, obviously, one of them was Klay Thompson,” Windhorst said.

“…I think there’s more than three [players on the list]. I think DeMar DeRozan is on that list as well.”

On Monday, NBA insider Chris Haynes revealed what it would take to get DeRozan on the Lakers.

“It will either take a one-year deal or a sign-and-trade where you can get a three-year deal going,” he reported.

Interestingly enough, just a few weeks ago, DeRozan was willing to return to the Chicago Bulls next season. What changed between now and then?

“A source told the Sun-Times late Sunday night that the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade was the final straw in DeRozan’s mind for any sort of return, as the 34-year-old will now use his free agency to shop elsewhere,” Joe Cowley reported this week.

DeRozan averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists last year in Chicago. While he isn’t the three-point shooter that the Lakers desperately need, nor does he fill the team’s void at center, he is a reliable scorer that could take some offensive pressure off James and Anthony Davis.

Plus, the L.A. is being linked to a different player to fill their three-point shooting needs.

One way or another, the next few days promise to be interesting. Will DeRozan be a member of the Lakers when everything is said and done next year? Time will tell.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.