The Los Angeles Lakers could be a trade away, or maybe two, from truly competing for a title this season.
The Lakers have proven thus far that they are not slouches; in fact, the opposite. As for Thursday, they hold a 15-5 record, which is good for the second seed in the loaded Western Conference. Los Angeles has the star power to compete with the best teams in the league, but it is clear they need to make an upgrade to their depth pieces to make a deep playoff run, and then some, possibly.
LA still has a long way to go, but this massive three-team trade idea could see them make a huge jump in that direction.
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Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report concocted this trade idea that sees the Lakers land and shore up both their frontcourt and backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks duo of former All-Star Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.
Dallas Mavericks Receive:
- PG LaMelo Ball (from Hornets)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
- G/F Klay Thompson (from Mavs)
- C Daniel Gafford (from Mavs)
Charlotte Hornets Receive:
- SG Max Christie (from Mavs)
- F Rui Hachimura (from Lakers)
- F Dalton Knecht (from Lakers)
- PG Gabe Vincent (from Lakers)
- 2029 first-round pick (unprotected via Lakers from Mavericks)
“Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson could assist in these areas.
“Gafford is a former lob target of Luka Dončić who’s averaging 10.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 1.7 blocks and has shot 61.3 percent overall in his 12 starts for Dallas this year.
“Thompson was pursued heavily by LeBron James and the Lakers in the summer of 2024 before the veteran wing eventually agreed to join Dončić in Dallas. Los Angeles reportedly offered Thompson a four-year, $80 million deal before he signed with the Mavs for $50 million over three years.
“Adding Gafford and Thompson to a core of Dončić, James, Austin Reaves and Ayton would push the Lakers even closer to a title.”
In this trade idea, the Mavericks receive the best player in LaMelo Ball. As for the Hornets, they receive a flurry of players, including former Lakers guard Max Christie, along with current Lakers like Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent.
Thompson may not be the player he once was, but his role with the Lakers would be vastly different from what it has been in his career and certainly from what it is with the Mavericks.
As for Gafford, he is a likely trade candidate. The 27-year-old agreed to a three-year, $54 million extension this summer, though it doesn’t take effect until the 2026-27 season. The deal is intentionally structured without the usual six-month no-trade clause, keeping him movable while still giving the Mavericks stability in their frontcourt.
If the Lakers believe they can make a serious run at Larry O’Brien No. 18 for them this season, a trade like this could be in the cards.
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