Lakers Wanted To Trade D’Angelo Russell In A Deal For Klay Thompson But Warriors Weren’t Interested

The Lakers tried their best to land Klay Thompson instead of the Mavericks, but the Warriors had no interest in D'Angelo Russell.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The Los Angeles Lakers were active in their efforts to beat out the Dallas Mavericks and land Klay Thompson. Unfortunately, the Lakers couldn’t convince the player to join them, nor could they convince the Lakers to accept D’Angelo Russell as the returning piece of a sign-and-trade, according to Chris Haynes. 

“I was told the Lakers made a very compelling offer, it was around the three to four years mark, somewhere along the lines of $20 million per year. They didn’t get their guy. They were going to take a sign-and-trade scenario, so it had nothing to do with LeBron’s decision to take less. It just did not happen. It would have likely involved D’Angelo Russell to be involved in a deal to get Klay. I was told by the Warriors weren’t interested in bringing back D’Angelo Russell, so that wasn’t feasible.” 

Haynes made it clear the Lakers are still searching the market for star-level options to acquire this summer.

“The Lakers right now are still trying to identify who that player is going to be. They’re seeking a star caliber player, whether that’s via LeBron James sacrificing money and taking the full mid-level, or a sign-and-trade scenario.”

The Mavericks were one step ahead of the Lakers in their pursuit of Klay. Trading away Tim Hardaway Jr. last week gave them the space required to make a push for Klay without getting hard-capped. They still needed to move one player, sending Josh Green to Charlotte for second-round picks which helped them land Klay.

Given how the Warriors didn’t take someone like Josh Green when they could’ve, there was no way they were accepting D’Angelo Russell, even with him being on an expiring contract. In addition, Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Klay turned down four-year offers with more money to join the Mavs.

“Thompson had four-year offers for more money, but taking less was offset by the chance to win a fifth championship with the Mavs and difference in state taxes.”

Klay averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season, shooting 38.7% from three on 9.0 attempts per game. He was fourth on the total three-pointers made chart last season, proving he’s still an elite shooter even if he had a noticeable regression.


Great Move By The Mavericks

It’s hard to even imagine the Mavericks beating out the Lakers in pursuit of a free agent, but the modern Mavericks are among the most attractive teams in the NBA. Jason Kidd is a well-regarded coach while Kyrie Irving is an inspiration to many players around the NBA.

Despite Luka Doncic being hard to play with, no doubt playing alongside him guarantees contention and the easiest three-point opportunities of any team in the NBA. Klay Thompson evaluated all of this and decided that the Mavs are a better home for him than the Lakers.

Hopefully, Thompson is able to help the Mavericks build off their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. While some of the deadweight on the roster has been shed, Klay’s championship experience will be relied upon to inspire the roster through next season, as the goal to bring a title back to Dallas has become clearer.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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