Klay Thompson Lakers rumor draws nostalgic reaction from Kobe Bryant's ex-teammate image
Klay Thompson is entering the final year of his contract and the rumors around his next stop are heating up fast.
The latest reports connect him directly to the Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise with deep family ties and a roster still searching for reliable outside shooting. One former NBA champion couldn't be more excited.
Klay Thompson trade rumors get Ron Artest excited
Thompson passed on the Lakers in free agency back in 2024, choosing instead to team up with Luka Doncic in Dallas. That partnership lasted just 21 games before the Mavericks stunned the league by trading Doncic to Los Angeles that February. Now the two could finally share a court together after all.
Reports out of Dallas suggest the Mavericks are exploring trade options after Thompson's role shrank significantly under new coach Jason Kidd last season with his scoring average and minutes both falling to career lows at 11.7 points and 21.7 per game.
The Mavericks have also addressed their outside shooting need elsewhere this summer, trading for Santi Aldama and landing the EuroLeague rights to sharpshooter Tarik Biberovic, further clouding Thompson's path back into the rotation. Dallas currently has 16 players on standard contracts, meaning a corresponding move will be necessary before the regular season begins.
Former Lakers champion Ron Artest reacted to the report with excitement on X this week. "Wow if this is true," Artest wrote. "I need the klay laker jersey."
Thompson's father, Mychal, won two championships with the Lakers and still works as the team's radio color commentator.
How realistic is a Klay Thompson to Lakers trade
The Lakers' pursuit of Thompson has already hit one discouraging update, with Dallas insiders indicating they would rather find a trade than simply let him walk for nothing. Doncic welcomed the idea of playing alongside Thompson when the sharpshooter first signed with Dallas in 2024, saying at the time that he could not wait to share the court with a four time champion. The two only got 21 games together before the trade that sent Doncic west, leaving that partnership unfinished.
Doncic has continued drawing praise around the league since arriving in Los Angeles, with his former Mavericks coach recently comparing his feel for the game to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
A buyout remains the most realistic path for Thompson if Dallas cannot find a trade partner first, though Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home, according to The Athletic. Miami remains in the picture as well, though the Lakers connection carries the most family history attached to it.
Nothing is finalized yet and Dallas continues to weigh its options as training camp approaches. But for a franchise built around Doncic, and a legend like Artest already picking out jerseys, the idea of Thompson in Purple and Gold no longer feels far-fetched.
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