Klay Thompson open to LAL contract amid LeBron, Mavs, Warriors buzz

LeBron James is reportedly willing to take a pay cut if it means the Los Angeles Lakers can use their mid-level exception on a star name.

It looks like Klay Thompson is an increasingly likely option.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic said there is “mutual interest” between the Lakers and Thompson as the longtime Golden State Warrior prepares to become a free agent.

“There’s mutual interest on Thompson’s side… It seems like he wants to stay in the Western Conference, he wants to stay on the West Coast. Again, either with the Los Angeles team or with Dallas,” Buha said (12:30 p.m.).

The Lakers’ cap maneuverability will depend entirely on what kind of contract James signs. The future Hall of Famer opted out of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday, but he is widely expected to return to the Lakers on a new deal. Agent Rich Paul has said James is willing to take a pay cut to help the Lakers build their roster.

“He prioritizes improving the roster,” Paul told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Saturday. “He insisted on making every effort to improve the squad.”

James would have to take a roughly $16 million pay cut for the Lakers to use their full $12.9 million mid-level exception. Thompson, James Harden and Jonas Valančiūnas are among the veterans James is willing to take the cut for, according to McMenamin.

While Thompson has long-standing ties to the Lakers organization through his father, Mychal, his willingness to move to the mid-level would come as a surprise. Thompson reportedly turned down a two-year, $48 million extension with the Warriors last offseason. Agreeing to a deal for roughly half that amount on an annual basis would be a clear sign that Thompson’s relationship with the Warriors has reached a point of no return, given that the team would almost certainly reach into the mid-level to bring him back.