Lakers' Magic Johnson seeks Klay Thompson trade

The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a big swing at reshaping their roster. On Thursday, Yahoo Sports reported that a Lakers legend has been quietly trying to recruit a $298 million generational shooter to pair with Luka Dončić. The move signals the Lakers’ urgency to add elite talent around their All-NBA guard, even as they navigate cap constraints and roster limitations.

The target is Stephen Curry’s former teammate Klay Thompson, the sharpshooting forward who remains unsigned after the Dallas Mavericks declined his $50 million player option in October. Thompson, 34, is a four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest three-point shooters ever. His arrival would instantly give Dončić a lethal floor-spacing partner, something the Mavericks lacked in their first-round playoff exit. The Lakers, meanwhile, are coming off a disappointing season where their lack of shooting hurt them in the playoffs.

Thompson’s market has moved slowly this offseason. Teams are hesitant to commit long-term to a 34-year-old two-way wing coming off an Achilles injury. But the Lakers, who have cap space and a star in Dončić, could structure a shorter deal to mitigate risk. That’s likely why a Lakers legend—reportedly Magic Johnson—has been reaching out to Thompson’s camp. Johnson, a former executive and close observer of the league, knows the value of a high-volume shooter in modern offense.

If Thompson signs in LA, it would instantly transform the Lakers from a fringe contender into a legitimate championship threat. Dončić and Thompson would give the Lakers a dynamic duo capable of spacing the floor and creating mismatches everywhere. The move also fits the Lakers’ pattern of chasing star power over role players, even at a premium cost. With Thompson still available and the Lakers needing to make a splash, the timing could be right. But the risk remains—Thompson may prefer a contender closer to home, or demand more years than the Lakers are willing to give. Either way, this recruitment shows how far the Lakers will go to build a winner around Dončić.