While the Lakers have more players than can be rostered once the season starts, it doesn’t mean they have a complete team.
The obvious need for a wing has fueled their chase for Jonathan Kuminga. However, as more time passes, the less likely it feels that an agreement will be reached.
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That means the Lakers may have to look elsewhere to fill that void, which could include revisiting old friends. All reports this summer have indicated there’s no interest from the purple and gold in frontcourt players from the Mavericks, but there hasn’t been anything about Klay Thompson.
Notably, Thompson picked Dallas over the Lakers in the 2024 offseason, a time when Luka Dončić was still on the Mavericks. However, things changed quite a bit in a short time for both franchises and Thompson has long felt like someone who doesn’t make much sense in Dallas.
However, a mixture of his big contract and declining play made it nearly impossible to move him. Much like the Lakers, the Mavs are in a bit of a roster crunch and the aging Thompson, who is in the last year of his deal and is due $17.5 million, is an obvious candidate for the team to part with.
On Monday, Christian Clark of The Athletic wrote about the Mavs’ situation and had some insight on Thompson, noting that it is unclear if he returns next season. According to Clark, Dallas has explored trade talks, but nothing has come of it.
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It is not known whether the Lakers were among the teams that have spoken with the Mavs about Thompson, but Clark did reveal that Thompson would be open to playing in Los Angeles.
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.
As things stand, multiple things would have to happen before Thompson playing in LA became a realistic scenario. Similar to their links with Jericho Sims, the Lakers need to make a consolidation trade just to be roster-compliant, let alone make a move for another player.
Unlike Sims, though, this scenario could end in a buyout and a free-agent signing. Thompson being a veteran and the Mavs being a non-contender is the perfect equation for a buyout. From there, it would depend on whether he wants to go to Miami to potentially play a bigger role with the Heat or return to California. And in that last scenario, you would imagine the Warriors would be an option, too.
If you’re getting the sense that this doesn’t feel likely, then you’re not alone. A trade feels quite unlikely in this scenario and if free agency is the route, the Lakers would seemingly be down the list of suitors. He’d have to really want to play in LA or alongside Luka again, to say nothing of LA’s interest.
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But crazier things have happened. Klay doesn’t fill a direct need for the Lakers, but it’s hard to say no to a player with his pedigree and shooting, even if it’s tailed off, especially if it’s on a minimum deal.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRudeor on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
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