Lakers Dealt Bad News in NBA Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Xavier Constantino | Last updated Aug 21, 2026 3:56 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers’ pursuit of Klay Thompson is over, and it did not end in their favor.

The 4-time NBA champion is expected to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers following a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.

Miami had positioned itself as one of Thompson’s most likely landing spots for weeks, with insiders describing the Heat’s interest in the veteran sharpshooter as their top offseason priority after adding Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Lakers were another team on the hunt for Thompson throughout the summer, wanting to improve their overall shooting for the upcoming season.

BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jV40iKTyEz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2026

Miami reportedly plans to use its remaining mid-level exception to bring Thompson in as a floor-spacing complement to Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in the paint. Thompson’s role will look similar to how Ray Allen once played for the franchise.

The outcome caps a saga with personal ties to the Lakers. Of course, Thompson’s father, Mychal, a Lakers radio analyst who won two NBA championships with the franchise in the 1980s, spent weeks campaigning for his son to sign with Los Angeles.

“I’m TRYING,” Mychal wrote on X earlier this month.

I’m TRYING…
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) August 6, 2026

It’s not the first time that the Lakers have missed out on Thompson. He chose the Mavericks over the Lakers during free agency in 2024, prioritizing the chance to play with Luka Doncic. Dallas later traded Doncic to Los Angeles, creating an ironic twist for Thompson.

Thompson averaged 11.7 points on 38.3 percent from the 3-point range last season in a reduced bench role for Dallas.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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