Klay will make the title contenders LeBron, Lakers and not Davis: Stephen A Smith

The Los Angeles Lakers signed a contract with LeBron James earlier this summer, after he became an unrestricted free agent after declining his player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was considered a big hit as there was no shortage of contenders among the greatest players in the history of the NBA.

The arrival of the small striker has exponentially increased the chances of the Lakers to play the playoffs for the first time in five seasons of the next campaign, but few people think they will challenge the title of the Golden State Warriors for the West Conference.

Immediately after James's arrival in Los Angeles, the conversation changed. It will be the next big free agent to arrive to team up with the triple NBA champion and face the Lakers contenders again. Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have all been associated with the move to Los Angeles.

Leonard was the first to be associated with a commercial move this summer, but the San Antonio Spurs striker was traded to the Toronto Raptors during the off season – he could still join him as a free agent next summer.

The Lakers have a $ 38 million cap allowing them to sign any of the major free agents in 2019, including Durant, Thompson and Leonard. Meanwhile, Davis' future for pelicans in New Orleans has been questioned in recent weeks. The center, which was nominated as the most valuable player last season, should leave its current employer as soon as possible, despite two years of presence and a player option for the 2020-21 season.

Anthony Davis was associated with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers. In this photo, Davis # 23 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on December 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images

And Davis's connection with the Lakers became stronger after signing with Klutch Sports, who also runs James. However, ESPN's Stephen A Smith believes the Lakers will be better off signing Thompson to the Warriors than to the Pelicans star if they want to become true title contenders and overthrow the Warriors' dominance led by Stephen Curry.

"Anthony Davis, even if he were to end up with LeBron in LA, they would still lose against those Golden State Warriors," Smith said of ESPN's "First Take", cited in 247 Sports.

"If Klay Thompson was in Los Angeles with LeBron, the Lakers would have a better chance of defeating the Golden State Warriors, and I believe that they would defeat the Golden State Warriors." That means they always have Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, "he added.

"I think they'd have a better chance of beating Golden State than if Klay stayed on Golden State with the rest of the crew only if Anthony Davis joined LeBron James."

However, Thompson will be hard to convince because he has already repeatedly stated that he was eager to retire as a warrior. He will need a great offer for him to leave the team that recruited him and with whom he won three NBA championship rings.