The Los Angeles Lakers are finding ways to win games with a semi-depleted roster.
The franchise has prevailed in eight of its first 11 contests with LeBron James nursing sciatica on the bench and Luka Doncic/Austin Reaves missing several contests due to injuries.
However, there’s one glaring issue that could cause problems for Los Angeles down the line. The Lakers are shooting just 33.9% from deep thus far, which ranks near the bottom of the league.
With the Dallas Mavericks firing general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, there’s a good chance the franchise will be open to entering full rebuild mode, which could benefit the Lakers this season.
By prying a four-time NBA champion guard known for his long-range shooting away from the Mavericks before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, the Lakers could significantly improve their production from beyond the arc.
Klay Thompson is a 41.0% career three-point shooter. The former Golden State Warriors star has mastered the art of using minimal dribbles and getting his footwork in order before firing perimeter jumpers.
Thompson once notched 37 points in a quarter (nine threes) while only placing the ball on the hardwood 11 times, proving that less is more while occupying the shooting guard position.
That said, Thompson hasn’t found his rhythm with the Mavericks this season. The Washington product is only connecting on 26.7% of his triples on the 3-8 Western Conference squad, leaving many to believe that he belongs in the ‘washed’ category.
Could Thompson regain his dynamic three-point shooting form alongside a willing passer in Doncic in Los Angeles? Perhaps, but it would require the Lakers to have the utmost faith in the 35-year-old wing’s ability to figure it out from deep before it’s too late.
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