Klay Thompson is open to playing in Los Angeles next season. That’s right, the future Hall of Famer, currently with the Dallas Mavericks, has revealed he’d welcome a return to the city where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. This isn’t just a casual thought either, with Christian Clark of The Athletic dropping this bombshell information on Monday.
Klay’s Dallas Situation Is A Mess
Let’s be real, Klay Thompson’s time in Dallas hasn’t felt right since he picked the Mavs over the Lakers back in the 2024 offseason. Remember, Luka Dončić was still there then, which probably made Dallas look a lot more appealing. Now, things are wildly different for both franchises. Thompson’s big contract combined with his declining play has made him incredibly tough to move. The Mavs are facing their own roster crunch, and Thompson, who is in the last year of his deal and due $17.5 million, is an obvious candidate for them to part ways with. Trade talks have been explored, but nothing has come of it so far, making a buyout feel like the most realistic path if he’s going to leave Dallas.
The Lakers’ Wing Problem And Roster Headaches
The Lakers clearly need a wing. They’ve been chasing Jonathan Kuminga, but that deal is looking less likely by the day. So, naturally, they’re looking at other options, which apparently includes revisiting “old friends.” Funny enough, all the reports this summer have said the Lakers aren’t interested in any Mavericks frontcourt players, but Klay Thompson’s name hasn’t come up until now. It’s unknown if the Lakers are among the teams who’ve spoken with the Mavs about Thompson. The big catch for LA is their own roster situation: they’ve got more players than they can even roster right now. They need to make a consolidation trade just to be compliant, let alone bring in another player like Thompson.
This whole scenario for Thompson joining the Lakers hinges on a lot. A trade feels pretty unlikely, so a buyout from the Mavs seems more plausible, especially since Thompson is a veteran and Dallas isn’t exactly a contender. After that, it’s a decision for Klay: does he want to head to Miami, where he could potentially get a bigger role with the Heat? Or does he truly want to come back to California? If it’s California, you know the Warriors would have to be an option too. It feels like a long shot for now, but Klay wanting to be in LA? That’s definitely something to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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