Klay Thompson's 21 games with Luka Doncic make strong Lakers reunion case

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Klay Thompson's 21 games with Luka Doncic make strong Lakers reunion case originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Klay Thompson is entering the final year of his Mavericks contract and his old numbers next to a former teammate are becoming relevant again.

Dallas has been unable to find a trade partner for the veteran guard, and interest continues building from the Los Angeles Lakers, where he has family history.

Klay Thompson's stats with Doncic tell a clear story​

Thompson turned down a bigger offer from the Lakers in 2024 free agency to chase a title alongside Doncic in Dallas a partnership built around shared championship aspirations.

Instead, Doncic was traded to Los Angeles just months later, and Thompson has spent the past two seasons on a Mavericks roster that has missed the playoffs both years. Over his two seasons in Dallas Thompson has averaged 12.9 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three respectable but far from his peak form with Golden State.

The numbers change when isolated to the 21 games he actually played alongside Doncic before the trade, where Thompson averaged 14.9 points on 40.6 percent shooting from three, a sample size that has fueled belief the fit could still work in Los Angeles. Dallas currently has 16 players on standard contracts, meaning a corresponding roster move will be necessary regardless of what happens with Thompson.

The Athletic's Christian Clark confirmed that Dallas has been shopping Thompson without success. "It remains unclear if Klay Thompson will be back in Dallas for a third year," Clark wrote. "My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles," he added, noting Thompson still owns a home in the area.

How the Miami Heat also fit into the picture​

An anonymous scout reportedly warned the Heat against signing Thompson, suggesting DeMar DeRozan would be the better value addition for a team also chasing shooting help around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Miami has stayed patient, hoping Dallas eventually agrees to a buyout rather than waiting on a trade that may never come together. The Heat's roster currently limits their trade options, since only a handful of players could realistically match Thompson's salary in a one for one deal.

The Lakers' pursuit of Thompson has already hit one other discouraging update this offseason, with Dallas insiders indicating they would rather trade him than let him go for nothing.

Still, Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home, according to The Athletic, keeping the door open even if a deal is not close. Los Angeles has limited financial flexibility after an active offseason, but a trade built around minimal salary would not be out of reach if Dallas softens its stance.

Nothing is finalized on either front and Dallas continues to control the pace of any decision. But between the stats from his brief run with Doncic and the ongoing interest from two contenders, Thompson's next move carries more weight than a typical veteran trade candidate heading into training camp.

More NBA news:​

• Klay Thompson hits back at Kevin Durant over 'never an MVP candidate' dig
• Kevin Durant has unapologetic reminder for critics calling LeBron James’ 76ers move 'unfair'
• Kevin Durant gets rare all-time nod from ex-teammate Devin Booker with Michael Jordan left out
• Steph Curry and Warriors reportedly eyeing a familiar face after failed LeBron James’ pursuit
• Aaron Rodgers hands Stephen A. Smith rare 'flowers' after stunning Kyrie Irving walk-back

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