Klay Thompson’s next move is still up in the air, but one voice in his corner is already pushing hard for a specific landing spot: Los Angeles.
Mychal Thompson made that clear on August 6, 2026, when he posted a blunt message aimed at Lakers fans: “I’m TRYING…😡”
The elder Thompson, a 12-year NBA veteran, has plenty of reasons to lean toward the Lakers. He spent five seasons in Los Angeles from 1986 to 1991 and won two championships there as a key reserve in the frontcourt.
Over 935 career games, he put up 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. He also remains tied to the franchise today as a radio color commentator alongside John Ireland.
That family connection only adds fuel to the idea of Klay ending up in purple and gold. The Mavericks guard has one year and $17.4 million left on his contract, and there’s growing doubt he’ll spend it with a rebuilding Dallas team. Around the league, interest is picking up as teams wait to see whether his situation turns into a sign-and-trade or a buyout.
If the Lakers were to get involved, Klay would bring a very specific skill set. He would not completely reshape the roster, but his shooting would still matter.
One of the greatest three-point shooters ever, he would give any offense more room to breathe. In 69 games last season, Thompson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 39.3% from the field and 38.3% from three.
There’s also the personal angle. Thompson was born in Los Angeles, and a move there would let him represent his hometown while carrying on a family legacy that already runs deep in the city. At 36, he’s in the final stretch of his career, and a Lakers run would give him a chance to keep playing meaningful games.
The Mavericks, though, are still trying to get something back. A buyout is still on the table, but Dallas wants to see whether it can land assets in return. With multiple teams showing interest, the market for Thompson appears real, and the team plans to make the most of it if possible.
Mychal Thompson is convinced the door is open. And from his point of view, the best ending for Klay is simple: a shot at another title, either with the Warriors or with the Lakers.
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Mavericks Suddenly Look Like A Real Threat In The West
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ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has been among those seeing upside in Dallas, calling the Mavericks underrated and pointing to the kind of depth that can keep a team in the postseason hunt. There is also optimism around the teams three-point shooting, a detail that matters in a Western Conference where every margin is tight and every weakness gets exposed quickly. The bigger question is whether all of those pieces will add up fast enough to put Dallas into the kind of race it wants to be in. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irving Just Reminded The NBA What Dallas Still Has
Kyrie Irving keeps showing up in a familiar place, even in a completely different kind of game. The Mavericks guard has been given the highest ball-handling rating in NBA 2K27 at 99, and it is the third straight release in which he has owned that top spot. For Dallas, it is another reminder of just how much shot creation and one-on-one pressure Irving can still bring to the lineup.
Stephen Curry sits second at 97, with Donovan Mitchell tied into the top tier at 93, which only underscores how crowded the leagues guard talent remains. The rankings also come alongside a broader look at recent player movement and contract situations around the list, a backdrop that makes Irvings standing feel less like a novelty and more like a snapshot of where he still fits among the NBAs elite ball handlers. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Trade Looks Smarter As Mavericks Avoid One Huge Risk
When the Mavericks sent Anthony Davis to Washington, the move was framed as a bet on flexibility as much as talent. Dallas got back assets that later helped in a multi-team deal for players such as Santi Aldama, along with AJ Johnson and a protected future first-round pick, giving the roster more versatile depth without tying itself to a massive commitment at the top of the payroll.
The bigger picture now looks even cleaner for Dallas because the Wizards are not racing into extension talks with Davis, despite his eligibility arriving earlier than that. For the Mavericks, that matters: it means they avoided the kind of long-term risk that can hang over a team if a stars next deal becomes the central question, while Washington is left to navigate a far more complicated timeline with one of the leagues most expensive potential next contracts looming. [Read more 🡒]