Klay Thompson‘s struggles to begin the season have been well-documented. The Golden State Warriors’ veteran is struggling to reach his usual production level on offense, which has led to concerning performances to begin the new season. To make matters worse for Thompson, he is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
According to Danny Chau of The Ringer, the Warriors should kick the tires on a potential trade for Zach LaVine, with Thompson being the headliner in a potential trade package. His expiring contract would be enticing for a franchise that’s considering hitting the reset button on their current roster.
“LaVine can offer just about everything lacking in the Warriors offense,” Chau wrote. “Chris Paul no longer seems capable of reliably hitting shots — is this how the Warriors wash their hands clean of a potentially misguided oil-and-water experiment? At worst, acquiring a talent like LaVine could cost the team’s soul. Would Golden State trade Thompson, one of the pillars of its dynasty, along with draft capital to right the ship? Is that unconscionable? Of course it is.”
LaVine could be the catalyst to spark a resurgence from the Warriors. His ability to operate as a tertiary playmaker and secondary scoring option would make him the ideal addition to Golden State’s roster. However, cutting ties with Thompson wouldn’t be easy. He’s been integral to the franchise’s dynasty and has spoken of his desire to retire with the team.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Joe Lacob will likely test the market on LaVine. Whether they’re willing to part with a key ingredient of their success is a totally different story. Only time will tell how the front office decides to move forward with Thompson’s tenure on the roster.
