Lakers face roadblock in potential Klay Thompson trade

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lakers face roadblock in potential Klay Thompson trade

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 8, 2026 11:32 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers seem far away from striking a sign-and-trade to land Jonathan Kuminga.

The former lottery pick has several suitors, and while he may not receive the level of financial compensation he's seeking, others might be better positioned to acquire his services.

The Lakers will have to pivot and look elsewhere for help on the wing, which may include future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson.

However, contrary to earlier reports, it looks like the Dallas Mavericks aren't interested in a buyout, at least not yet, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel.

Mavericks won't buy out Klay Thompson's contract?

“Amid speculation and people asking, Klay Thompson and the Mavs are not currently negotiating a buyout, sources confirmed to ClutchPoints,” Siegel shared on X.

Amid speculation and people asking, Klay Thompson and the Mavs are not currently negotiating a buyout, sources confirmed to @ClutchPoints.

The Mavs are open to trading Thompson, but there have not been active discussions as of today between the two sides on a buyout.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) August 8, 2026

Thompson still has one year left in the three-year, $50 million pact he signed to join the Mavericks. The Mavs believe he's tradable, and they'd obviously rather get something in return instead of letting him walk away for free.

Christian Clark of The Athletic revealed that he'd be open to a move to the Lakers, given that his father, Mychal Thompson, played for the organization and he grew up in Southern California:

"My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home," Clark wrote.

However, it now looks like the Lakers will have to give up valuable assets to pull off this move. The Mavs' new front office may not want to do them any favors after the Luka Doncic fiasco, and it'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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