Report: LA Lakers Pursuing Klay Thompson in Trade for No. 7 Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers could stand to add youth, length and shooting to their perimeter over the offseason.

It sounds like they're trying to kill all three birds with one stone in the form of current Golden State Warriors sniper Klay Thompson.

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, L.A. is attempting to flip its first-round pick of Thursday's draft (No. 7 overall) for the 24-year-old sharpshooter:



"The deal would be part of a larger three-way trade that sends Minnesota All-Star power forward Kevin Love to the Warriors," Bresnahan reported. "The Lakers are interested but the deal has been put on hold because of a difference in opinion within the Warriors’ organization whether or not to keep Thompson while trying to obtain Love."

Thompson averaged a personal-best 18.4 points in the 2013-14 campaign. He also set career marks in field-goal (44.4) and three-point (41.7) percentages.



The 6'7", 205-pound wing also emerged as one of Golden State's top perimeter defenders. He often took on the Warriors' toughest backcourt defensive assignment, freeing fellow "Splash Brother" Stephen Curry to focus his energy at the opposite end of the floor.

Considering the Lakers' current roster construction—only aging guards Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant and young center Robert Sacre have guaranteed contracts for next season—there's an obvious opening for someone with Thompson's unique skill set.

The threat of his three-point shooting could alleviate some of the defensive heat felt by the 35-year-old Bryant. Even if L.A. brings back Jodie Meeks, now an unrestricted free agent, and Nick Young, who Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported "will opt out of his $1.2 million player option," neither brings as much to the defensive end as Thompson.

The Warriors must decide whether Thompson is a player they'd be willing to move....

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