Klay Thompson could become a Lakers trade target if Dallas avoids a buyout, with a potential framework sending Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2031 Wizards second-round pick to the Mavericks.
Klay Thompson's future with the Dallas Mavericks remains undecided, and the Los Angeles Lakers could be one of the teams monitoring the situation if Dallas continues to explore the trade market.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Miami remains at the front of the line among teams hoping Dallas buys out Thompson.
The Heat also missed out on Bradley Beal, who elected to re-sign with the LA Clippers, leaving Miami with another reason to monitor veteran shooting options.
However, Dallas has maintained since mid-June that it would prefer to trade Thompson if possible rather than buy him out.
Stein also reported that there has been direct offseason contact between new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri and Thompson, while two sources briefed on the process said it remains unclear how the situation will play out.
Thompson is entering the final season of his three-year, $50 million contract and is scheduled to earn $17.46 million in 2026-27.
Heat remain major buyout threat
Miami would be a major threat if Thompson reaches the buyout market.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Heat, Lakers, and Warriors all have a level of interest in Thompson as Dallas continues exploring its options.
Miami is viewed as the favorite if Thompson secures a buyout because the Heat could offer him more money on a one-year deal and a clearer immediate role next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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The Heat have also resisted including Nikola Jovic in a potential Thompson trade, according to Siegel, even though Jovic would provide one of the cleanest salary-matching paths between Miami and Dallas.
That matters for the Lakers because their best path may be a trade, not a buyout.
If Thompson becomes a free agent, Miami's financial flexibility and starting role could make the Heat harder to beat.
Potential Lakers-Mavericks trade framework
Lakers receive:
Klay Thompson
Mavericks receive:
Jarred Vanderbilt
2031 Wizards second-round pick
This would be the cleanest direct Lakers trade framework.
Vanderbilt's $12.4 million salary is large enough to help the Lakers match Thompson's $17.46 million salary under normal salary-matching rules, depending on the Lakers' exact apron situation and final structure.
The second-round pick would give Dallas some draft value instead of simply losing Thompson for nothing via a buyout.
Also, the Mavericks could make another move by rerouting Vanderbilt to another team, as they already have multiple options at forward.
Why this structure is cleaner than a multi-player package
The Lakers could theoretically build a package around smaller contracts such as Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, or Adou Thiero, but that would be harder for Dallas from a roster standpoint.
Dallas currently has 16 standard contracts, one more than the regular-season maximum.
A deal in which the Mavericks send out Thompson and receive two or three players would make that roster issue worse unless another player is waived, included, or redirected to a third team.
That is why Vanderbilt plus a pick is cleaner. It is a one-for-one player structure, so Dallas would not add extra roster spots in the trade.
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Why the Lakers would trade for Klay Thompson
The Lakers' interest would be based on a specific need: shooting around Luka Doncic.
Thompson is not the same player he was during his peak Golden State years, but he remains one of the best shooters in NBA history.
The 36-year-old is a career 40.9% three-point shooter across his 13 seasons with Golden State and Dallas.
Thompson has also won four championships, earned five All-Star selections and All-NBA honors, and won the 2016 Three-Point Contest title.
In Dallas last season, Thompson averaged 11.7 points while shooting 38.3% from three on 7.6 attempts per game. That volume is still meaningful, especially for a Lakers team built around Luka's ability to create open looks.
A move to Los Angeles would also reunite Thompson with Doncic after the two played together in Dallas (2024-25).
Thompson also has a Los Angeles connection. He was born in the city, and his father, Mychal Thompson, spent five seasons with the Lakers, winning two championships with the franchise.
Thompson wants another contender role
Thompson has also made it clear that he wants to play meaningful basketball again.
"I want to compete for a championship, not necessarily win one, but just like have the chance to go and try and get another one," Thompson said during a recent Twitch stream.
"I want to play a role on a team that can make a deep playoff run. Whether it's this season or next season. That's really my only goal."
That makes the Lakers a logical team to monitor. Los Angeles would not need Thompson to be a star.
The role would be simpler: space the floor, take high-volume threes, bring championship experience, and punish defenses that overload toward Doncic and Austin Reaves.
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Why Dallas would consider it
For Dallas, the main argument is avoiding a buyout while getting something back.
If the Mavs no longer view Thompson as part of their long-term plan, trading him would be cleaner than paying him to leave. Vanderbilt would give Dallas a defensive forward who can rebound, guard multiple positions, and bring physicality.
The concern is that Vanderbilt is not an expiring contract, while Thompson is. That could make Dallas hesitant unless it values Vanderbilt's defense or receives enough draft compensation.
That is why the second-round pick matters. It would give Dallas a tangible asset.
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