According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers tried to trade D’Angelo Russell to the Golden State Warriors for Klay Thompson.
The Warriors weren’t interested in reuniting with Russell.
“I was told the Lakers made a pretty compelling offer,” Haynes said. “It was around a three, four-year mark somewhere along the lines of 20 million per. And they didn’t get their guy. And it was gonna take obviously a sign-and-trade scenario. So that had nothing to do with LeBron James’ decision to take less. It was gonna take a sign-and-trade to get Klay and it did not. It just did not happen.
“I was told that it would have likely involved D’Angelo Russell being a part of a deal to get Klay. And from what I was told, the Warriors weren’t interested in bringing back D’Angelo Russell.”
Thompson has agreed on a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The deal will require a multi-team sign-and-trade scenario that sends Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets for two future second-round picks.
The Lakers were extremely intriguing to Thompson, but the financial savings from living in Texas over California and the fact that the Mavericks came within three victories of an NBA championship were big factors in Thompson’s decision, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Warriors while shooting 43.2% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 92.7% from the free-throw line.
The Warriors drafted Thompson with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Thompson made five All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and one All-Defensive team with the Warriors. He helped the franchise win four championships.
Thompson has career averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks. He turns 35 next season.
The Lakers are shopping Russell, who picked up his 2024-25 player option worth $18.7 million.
A one-time All-Star, Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.6% from the field, 41.5% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free-throw line.
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