LeBron James Reportedly Calls Klay Thompson to Recruit Him to LakersLeBron James Reportedly Calls Klay Thompson to Recruit Him to Lakers NBA free agency got off to a hot start on Sunday with news that LeBron James has reached out to Klay Thompson. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that James called Thompson as soon as the open negotiating period began at 3 p.m. PT. “Klay Thompson, his agent Greg Lawrence at Wasserman are talking to a number of teams, including the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks,” Wojnarowski said. “They had conversations tonight. I heard LeBron James called Klay Thompson when free agency started at 6 p.m. ET – reached out, talked to Klay Thompson.” The Lakers are reportedly one of several teams interested in Thompson, who will become an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his $51.4 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. James, who is also set to become a free agent, is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to sign with the Lakers. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on Saturday that Thompson is one of the players James is willing to take a pay cut for. Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Warriors, was born in Los Angeles. He played his college basketball at Washington State University before being drafted by the Warriors in 2011. It remains to be seen if Thompson will sign with the Lakers, but James’ reported phone call is a clear indication of the Lakers’ interest in the sharpshooting guard.
LeBron James seems to do that Real want Klay Thompson to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors star, who entered NBA free agency on Sunday, received a call from James right as the open negotiating period began at 3 p.m. PT, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported a few hours later on “SportsCenter” (h/t Real GM) .
“(Thompson), his agent Greg Lawrence at Wasserman are talking to a number of teams, including the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks,” Wojnarowski said Sunday. “They had conversations tonight. I heard LeBron James called Klay Thompson when free agency started at 6 p.m. ET — reached out, talked to Klay Thompson.
“The expectation I have now is these conversations, these negotiations will happen tomorrow. There probably won’t be a resolution tonight, but Dallas, the Lakers and the (Los Angeles) Clippers are certainly working to be involved in this. They are the prominent teams for Klay Thompson, whose career will take place somewhere other than Golden State once this free-agency period is over.
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“I’m told that LeBron James called Klay Thompson when free agency opened… These conversations, these negotiations are going to happen tomorrow. There probably won’t be a resolution tonight.”
ESPN’s Woj on LeBron James recruiting Klay to the Lakers
pic.twitter.com/9EXQdg4HBF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 1, 2024
While several teams are reportedly interested in Thompson, only one has The King in the pipeline. And James is reportedly very high on the four-time NBA champion taking his talents from the Bay to SoCal.
But according to Wojnarowski, Thompson has a long list of conversations with other teams.
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Klay Thompson plans to hold talks with the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers and 76ers during the early hours of free agency, sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2024
James, who will become an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his $51.4 million contract through the 2024-25 NBA season, wants to re-sign with LA — possibly for a reduced price to bring in an “impact player,” his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN on Saturday.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported Saturday, citing sources, that one of the players James is willing to take a pay cut for is Thompson. It appears he will be leaving Golden State.
Could the lure of Thompson’s hometown — he was born in LA — be enough to sign with the Lakers, for whom his father, Mychal, once played? It will most likely play a huge role in his ultimate decision, and there is certainly appeal in joining one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
And if all that wasn’t enough, James reportedly made sure to do his part with a simple phone call.
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