The Los Angeles Lakers have already had a busy offseason, but they appear to be far from finished despite the calendar turning to August. Los Angeles has remained active on the trade market and continues to explore ways to improve its roster
One area of focus has been moving contracts the organization no longer views as ideal fits. Forward Jarred Vanderbilt has frequently surfaced in trade discussions
“The Lakers are actively shopping Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade talks. After gaining two second-round picks in the Deandre Ayton trade, Los Angeles could consolidate those assets in a deal immediately for a starting-caliber wing,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote
The Lakers have pursued Jonathan Kuminga throughout the summer, but a deal appears increasingly unlikely. More recently, they have been linked to a potential trade for Klay Thompson
“The Lakers are emerging as a potential destination for Klay Thompson. Thompson would be set up consistently for great shots by Luka Doncic, an attractive element. LA also possesses the necessary salary-matching contracts to pull off a trade instead of competing after a buyout,” Sidery wrote
Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk believes the Lakers could make a deal centered around Vanderbilt for Thompson
“That matters a ton too. Vanderbilt’s $13.3 million is fully guaranteed on his contract. There is no flat-out waiving it to save half its value, or anything of that sort. The Lakers could waive-and-stretch the deal, but that would keep him as a cap hit for a fair bit longer. Trading for Thompson puts the Lakers on the hook for about $5 million more in 2026-27, but it does save them over $8 million in the long run. At best, Los Angeles could even get a rotation-caliber player from Thompson. At worst, the Lakers get a guy who can play spot minutes situationally and be a great mentor for the younger players on the team,” Rovenchuk wrote.
A deal built around Vanderbilt and Thompson could benefit both teams. Vanderbilt would give the Mavericks another versatile defender, while the Lakers would add one of the NBA’s greatest shooters to pair with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves
Thompson has earned roughly $298 million in NBA contracts during his career. For the Lakers, adding another elite perimeter shooter would strengthen the offense. For the Mavericks, acquiring a defensive-minded forward like Vanderbilt could help improve the team’s depth and versatility
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