Mavericks' three-player trade rumor should be of interest to Lakers

Mavericks' three-player trade rumor should be of interest to Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.If the Los Angeles Lakers have a strong desire to add another high-profile, perimeter-oriented player, a serviceable low-post threat, and/or a proven stretch four this offseason, partnering with the Dallas Mavericks again could become a realistic path toward doing so.

According to the Stein Line’s Marc Stein, the Mavericks are open to trading three contributors who fit the descriptions mentioned above, which should intrigue a Lakers squad that has plenty of work to do this summer.“So …Maybe Dallas trades down,” Stein wrote Friday.

Yet what happens if the Mavericks keep No. 9 and end up selecting, say, Arizona's Brayden Burries?”“That's a question I've heard some teams pose in relation to (Kyrie) Irving.

As in: Would Burries' arrival soften Dallas' position about making Irving available?”“Klay Thompson, P.J.

Washington and Daniel Gafford, as we speak, are the veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading ... with Thompson drawing particular notice now that he's entering the final season of his current contract valued at $17.5 million in 2026-27.”

Thompson has received his fair share of scrutiny for his declining scoring chops and inability to regularly keep opponents out of the paint at this stage of his career, and it’s all justifiable. However, those same critics shouldn’t dismiss the fact that Thompson is a 38.3% three-point sniper at age 36, which is one plus that could pique the Lakers' interest after shooting 35.

9% from deep this past season. Washington wasn’t the corner three-point specialist he was in 2024-25, but he was a highly effective low and mid-post weapon who continued his versatile defensive ways in year 7. The Kentucky product averaged 14.

2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.

0 steals per game with the Mavericks in 56 contests, which is valuable production that mi