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The Los Angeles Lakers made a hard run at Klay Thompson before he decided to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.
“Free agent Klay Thompson plans to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50M deal with a player option,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 1. “Thompson ends his historic Warriors run as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade that’ll also send Josh Green to Charlotte.”
Much of the talk about Thompson and the Lakers involved the team using the full mid-level exception, worth $12.8 million, to sign him. However, insider Anthony Irwin reported on his “Lakers Lounge” podcast that the team offered Thompson a deal “in the ballpark of $80 million over four years.”
“I was told the Lakers made a pretty compelling offer,” Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported. “It was around a three, four-year mark, somewhere along the lines of $20 million per [year], and they didn’t get their guy.”
Haynes explains that landing Thompson for that price would have involved a sign-and-trade. The Warriors were uninterested in what the Lakers had to offer.
“I was told that it would have likely involved D’Angelo Russell being a part of a deal to get Klay,” Haynes said. “From what I was told, the Warriors weren’t interested in bringing back D’Angelo Russell. Remember, D’Angelo had that one-year stint with them a few years ago. So … that just wasn’t feasible for the Warriors.”
Taxes, Championship Hopes Lured Klay Thompson From Lakers: Report
It also appears that Thompson felt that the Mavericks, fresh off an NBA Finals appearance, are better set up for a title run.
“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,” Wojnarowski tweeted, mentioning Thompson’s camp was in serious talks with the Lakers.
LeBron James has been clear that he’s willing to sacrifice financially for the Lakers to land another impact player. Thompson was high on his list. The four-time MVP called Thompson to start recruiting right when free agency opened.
“They’ve had conversations tonight,” Wojnarowski said on June 30. “I’m told LeBron James called Klay Thompson right when free agency opened at 6 p.m Eastern — reached out, talked to Klay.”
Lakers Still Seeking Star-Level Player
The VP Rob Pelinka and the Lakers have struck out in their star search so far. James said he’d be willing to take less for players like James Harden, Jonas Valanciunas or Thompson. All three have locked in their futures elsewhere. But LA still hopes to make something happen.
“Right now, the Lakers are still trying to identify who that player is going to be. They are seeking a star-caliber player,” Haynes said. “Whether that is via LeBron James sacrificing money and taking the full mid-level [exception], or a sign-and-trade scenario.”
The latest name mentioned has been DeMar DeRozan, who is unsure of his future with the Chicago Bulls.
“I think there’s more than three,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the “Hoop Collective” podcast. “I think DeMar DeRozan is on that list as well. And there may be another one or so.”
DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last season.