Klay Thompson trade rumor primes Lakers for a dream Luka Doncic reunion

NBA trade rumors couldn't be at a higher point when it comes to buzz around the Dallas Mavericks after their 9-16 start to the regular season. While the team has begun to turn things around by winning four of their last five games, names like Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson remain at the top of everyone's mind; however, one trade destination for the former Golden State Warrior, Thompson, appears to have all the juice to become true.

The Los Angeles Lakers are always a team to monitor around the trade deadline as they are typically just one move away from stirring the pot and becoming contenders, but this season, that statement couldn't be more true. Sitting with a 17-7 record in fourth place in the Western Conference, the Lakers are truly one consistent shooter away from becoming a top dog in the West, and that could be achievable if they trade for Thompson. Dallas is already shopping him, and the Lakers could cash in.

As currently stands, the Lakers are one of the top teams in their conference, but they rank 24th in 3-pointers attempted per game in a league where shooting from behind the arc and spreading the floor is critical. With Thompson being an achievable name to acquire and him, along with Lakers star Luka Doncic, having played formally last season, Los Angeles may have all the motivation to make a deal with the Mavericks as soon as possible.

Lakers make perfect sense for a Klay Thompson trade

It might go without saying, but if you want your 3-point shooting to improve, you go and trade for a player like Thompson, who possesses all the skills to make shots from pretty much anywhere on the court. One of the reasons the Mavericks signed Thompson during the 2024 offseason was to improve their shooting after an abysmal display from behind the arc as a team in the NBA Finals, and while Thompson's shooting did help the team, the Doncic trade ruined any chance the Mavericks had at competing for a championship.

For the Lakers, Thompson not only has experience playing with Doncic in the past, but while the Mavericks were pursuing the former Warrior in the 2024 offseason, so was Los Angeles, and had it not been for Doncic, Thompson may have signed with the Lakers.

On the season, Thompson is only shooting 35.4 percent from behind the 3-point arc, but after a strong end to November and a great showing through December, Thompson has turned his shooting around to north of 40 percent on the month. At one point, it seemed like Thompson was one of the most untradeable players on Dallas' roster, but since turning his season around, the 35-year-old has garnered some buzz on the trade market.

Thompson belongs on a contending team, and for as long as the Lakers have Doncic on their roster, they will be one of the top teams in the West, which is why Thompson makes perfect sense as a trade target. It would be sad to see such an experienced veteran leave the locker room, especially after what he has done for Cooper Flagg as a mentor, but Thompson deserves to compete for meaningful games this late into his historic career.

It's unclear what kind of package a 35-year-old Thompson might garner on the open market, but if the Lakers view his connection with Doncic and his shooting highly, they should be calling Dallas before it's too late.