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The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to finish the second half of free agency on a high note after undergoing significant roster turnover. However, the back half of free agency has not been as kind to them as the first half.
The Lakers were interested in Klay Thompson, who was expected to be let go by the Dallas Mavericks. It came down to Los Angeles and the Miami Heat.
“My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer," The Athletic's Christian Clark wrote.
Thompson immediately decided to sign with the Heat after he and the Mavericks agreed to a contract buyout.
“The Heat on Sunday could celebrate not only the addition of five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson, but also the fact that the organization emerged from the transaction with more flexibility than some might have expected. Because Thompson agreed to a first year salary of $5.6 million, that left the Heat with the ability to fill both the 14th and 15th roster spots," Miami Herald's Barry Jackson wrote.
Thompson's father, former Lakers legend Mychal Thompson, revealed that his son was not going to pass up the opportunity to play for the Heat.
“I tried to persuade him to come back to LA and come home. But playing with Giannis, Bam and for Pat Riley and Spoelstra was just too much of an attraction for him to turn down,” Mychal Thompson said.
Simply put, Thompson believed the Heat had a roster better suited to make a deep playoff run than the Lakers. It is a fair point, especially as the four-time NBA champion enters the back end of his career.
Thompson is looking to return to his old form after coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Miami has the pieces to make a deep postseason run, and that is exactly why Thompson's decision was so easy to make.
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