Klay Thompson opted for a three-year, $50 million agreement with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2024, passing on a larger proposal from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to a report by The Athletic.
League sources cited by reporters Joe Vardon, Christian Clark and Sam Amick told the outlet that the Lakers and Thompson discussed a four-year, $80 million deal that would have required Golden State’s cooperation in a sign-and-trade. Thompson, 35, instead chose Dallas, attracted by the chance to play alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on a roster coming off an NBA Finals appearance.
The decision meant forgoing an additional year and a higher annual salary. It also reunited the veteran guard with the role conflict that surfaced late in his Warriors tenure: moving to the bench as a sixth man. Dallas’ current struggles have left Thompson in what the report describes as “a far worse competitive position” than Golden State, while the Lakers—now led by Doncic and Austin Reaves—have opened the season strongly.
Ironically, Doncic was traded to Los Angeles less than a year after Thompson’s free-agency choice, a scenario that would have paired the five-time All-Star with the Slovenian guard in purple and gold had he signed with the Lakers. Los Angeles continues to await LeBron James’ season debut; Doncic recently said the team “can’t wait” for the 20-time All-Star to return.
Source: Lakers Nation
