NBA Rumors: The Piece Los Angeles Lakers Want to Accompany Luka Doncic in the Backcourt

Los Angeles Lakers managed to move closer to the top of the Western Conference in February 2026, largely due to Luka Dončić's performance. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets were starting a shift towards reconstruction. In that context, the New York team waived Cam Thomas, who later signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

This move closed the door on a potential trade between the Lakers and the Nets for the shooting guard, although the idea of seeing him sharing the court with Dončić is useful for analyzing what both teams were looking for and what they could have gained or lost with such an operation.

At that time, the Lakers had in their main rotation Dončić, who was averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists with a 61.6% true shooting percentage, along with LeBron James, still a key player in scoring and playmaking at 41 years old. The core also included Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Deandre Ayton, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., and Bronny James, among others.

Brooklyn, after releasing Thomas, still had key players like Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Terance Mann, Tyrese Martin, Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, Day’Ron Sharpe, as well as young guards like Egor Demin, Ben Saraf, and Nolan Traore.

How the Trade Could Have Been Structured

Before Thomas was waived, a potential deal would have sent the 24-year-old shooting guard, with a six million dollar expiring contract, to Los Angeles. In return, Brooklyn could have received a future first-round pick or a pick swap, young players like Smith Jr. or Knecht, and a smaller contract to match salaries, such as Kleber's. This structure would have allowed the Lakers to stay below the luxury tax, while the Nets would have added assets for their rebuild.

Thomas stands out for his scoring ability. This season, he was averaging 15.6 points with a 43.5% field goal percentage and 32.5% from three, being a player accustomed to creating his own shot and taking on decisive possessions, something that the Lakers' second unit has not always had consistently.

His fit alongside Dončić was also intriguing due to their ages—24 and 26 respectively—and playing styles. The Slovenian runs the offense and creates for others, while Thomas focuses on scoring and can go on offensive streaks. This combination would have given the Lakers an alternative when defenses focused on Dončić or when James was not on the court.

For the Nets, the trade would have meant adding youth and draft picks, along with more salary flexibility and the opportunity to readjust the roster following doubts about Thomas' role. The risk would have been parting ways with a proven scorer who, as a starter in the 2024-25 season, averaged 24 points and has had nine games of 40 or more in his career, something that could have led to criticism from fans.

From the Lakers' perspective, Thomas' arrival offered immediate scoring off the bench, shot-creating ability in playoff situations, and room for growth due to his age, with little financial risk given his short contract. However, there were concerns about defense, the possibility of his ball-dominant style affecting the distribution of possessions with Dončić and James, questions about fitting into a veteran locker room, and the cost of losing young players with developmental potential.

In the best-case scenario, Los Angeles would have added a scorer without jeopardizing their financial future, while Brooklyn would have strengthened its rebuild. In the worst-case scenario, the fit wouldn't have worked, and the Lakers would have sacrificed future pieces for a short-term gamble. With Thomas now in Milwaukee, any Lakers' interest would have to wait until summer or depend on a possible sign-and-trade. Still, the idea of seeing him share the backcourt with Dončić remains one of the most intriguing alternative scenarios of the 2025-26 season.