The Los Angeles Lakers have been active in the 2026 offseason, and there could be another move to make at some point this upcoming season. Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson is one of the veterans on a younger squad, and both parties could part ways sooner rather than later. 

According to Christian Clark of The Athletic, the future of Thompson in Dallas is uncertain, and there's a chance he could return to familiar territory and come back to Los Angeles. Clark reported Klay Thompson would welcome a return to the city, and the Miami Heat could be another potential suitor. 

Thompson spent part of his childhood in Los Angeles, where his dad, Mychal Thompson, played from February 1987 to 1991. Mychal was a part of the "Showtime" Lakers era and served as a key backup for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. For Klay, many fans would welcome him in because of the rich history his father contributed to. 

A big part of the Lakers' recipe for success will have to be their three-point shooting. Last season, they were 23rd in the NBA in three-point field goals made per game with 11.7. While Klay Thompson may not have the elusiveness he once had, he can still get out in space and shoot consistently from long range. 

Last season, Klay shot 38.3 percent from three, and he has shot over 40 percent from long range in his career. He may not be an X-Factor for the Lakers if he were to join them, but he could provide some much needed scoring. 

In 2025-2026, Thompson scored 11.7 points per game, and there were nights when he went for 15-20 points a night. 

The important thing for the Lakers' roster is consistent shooting. When guard Luke Kennard was starting to hit his stride from the perimeter and provided more consistency, Los Angeles looked like a more complete team. 

Kennard departed the franchise and is now on the Phoenix Suns, but last season he was a player who shot 47.4 percent from downtown. If the Lakers can replace that level of production from the perimeter, they could be in good hands. 

Los Angeles signed Quentin Grimes this summer, and while he's a talented offensive player, they may not get that same kind of shooting next season. If things don't work out with that move, there is a world where the Mavericks and Lakers come to an agreement to send Klay back to California. 

Thompson could be sought after by many contending teams next season, and it will be interesting to see what kind of value he'll have.