Klay Thompson's stay in Dallas no longer looks settled.
Christian Clark of The Athletic reported that it remains unclear whether Thompson will be back with the Mavericks for a third season. Dallas has explored his trade market, according to multiple rival-team sources cited in the report, but has not found a deal yet.
The contract explains part of the problem. Thompson is owed $17.5 million this season and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. That is not a massive number by current NBA standards, but it still requires a team to believe this version of Thompson is worth the salary slot and the trade cost.
The landing spots being discussed are familiar. Clark wrote that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat have also been frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a possible destination.
That does not mean a move is close. The Reddit reaction around the report focused on the same practical issue Dallas is facing: teams may be interested if Thompson becomes available cheaply, but giving up real assets for an aging shooter is a different conversation.
For the Mavericks, this is a roster squeeze as much as a player story. Thompson still carries shooting gravity, and he led Dallas in made threes over the past two seasons. His market will show how much contenders still value the name, the shooting and playoff resume.
No comments yet. Start the conversation.