The Los Angeles Lakers still have some work to do to finalize their roster for the 2026-27 season. Their biggest remaining need is a starting-caliber wing, as the team would currently have to start someone out of position. Several names have been thrown out, but the most recent is four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson.
Thompson, 36, is years removed from his prime days as an elite defensive presence and the second-best shooter in the sport. However, he is still an effective shooter and high-IQ help defender, and has experience playing alongside Luka Doncic, and reportedly would welcome a return to L.A. either via trade or buyout. In either case, Klay’s father — and Lakers radio commentator — Mychal Thompson is doing what he can to get his son in the purple and gold.
I’m TRYING…😡
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) August 6, 2026
This is not the first time that Thompson has tried to get his son to the Lakers. In fact, the five-time All-Star notably spurned the Lakers to join Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2024. Little did he know that Doncic would get traded to L.A. within one season of him making that choice.
Thompson is no longer a player that the Lakers should give up value to get. If the Mavericks buy him out and he wants to join the Lakers on a minimum, there’s no harm in that. But it would be questionable whether or not to give him a starting role or if they should bring him off the bench in favor of more youth in the starting lineup.
For now, though, there has been no motion on a buyout, as the Mavericks likely have no motivation to get him off the roster and to L.A. That could always change, of course, especially if Dallas’ season doesn’t go well and they look to sell at the trade deadline in February.
Cameron Carr has chance to play right away for Lakers
The Lakers lacking star power at the wing positions might make it possible for first-round pick Cameron Carr to get real minutes right away this season. An anonymous Lakers source says that he won’t be asked to do too much other than hit open 3-pointers and defend, and that should allow him to play a role right at the start of the season in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
If the Lakers were to add someone like Thompson, then that would obviously change things.
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