Dallas was supposed to be the last chapter. Klay Thompson signed with the Mavericks in the summer of 2024 as the veteran shooter who could help Luka Doncic finally close out a title. Then the front office traded Doncic. Then they traded Anthony Davis. Now the Mavericks are staring at a 26-56 record and a future built around rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, and Thompson — who turns 37 before next season — looks like a piece that no longer fits the timeline.
Flagg averaged 21 points, nearly 7 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a rookie, and there’s real hope in Dallas that he can take a leap in Year 2. But the Western Conference is brutal, and the Mavs aren’t close to contending. That makes Thompson, who still shot 38.3 percent from three on 7.6 attempts per game last season, a logical trade candidate. He’s on an expiring $17.46 million deal. A contender could use his shooting. Dallas could use his salary slot and whatever assets come back.
Here are three teams that make sense, if the Mavs decide to move on.
Golden State Warriors
This one is obvious. Thompson spent 13 seasons in the Bay. He won four rings alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The Warriors are no longer a title threat — Jimmy Butler tore his ACL this year and will miss significant time — but Steve Kerr is coming back, and the organization seems content to let the dynasty era wind down with grace.
Bringing Thompson home would be a storybook move. The problem is the trade mechanics. Golden State doesn’t have an obvious salary match. Moses Moody is hurt. Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos are too valuable for a 36-year-old rental. The more realistic path might be Thompson negotiating a buyout with Dallas and signing with the Warriors as a free agent. But if both sides want a reunion badly enough, they’ll find a way.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs just came within a couple wins of the NBA Finals. They have Victor Wembanyama, a young backcourt full of creativity, and a system that could use a proven shooter who knows how to move without the ball. Thompson isn’t the defender he used to be. His burst is gone. But his gravity on the perimeter hasn’t faded, and San Antonio was sometimes one cold shooting night away from falling short in the playoffs.
Matching salary is tricky. Keldon Johnson makes roughly $17 million, but the Spurs value his leadership and energy off the bench. Trading him for a short-term veteran feels like a step backward. Still, if San Antonio wants to go all-in while Wembanyama is on his rookie deal, Thompson’s shooting and playoff experience could be exactly what the roster needs.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons won 60 games last season and pushed the Cavaliers to a Game 7 in the conference semifinals. Cade Cunningham was brilliant, but by the end of that series he was running on fumes because Detroit didn’t have another reliable shot creator.
The Pistons could swing for a star — Trey Murphy or Devin Booker would be the dream targets. But if those deals don’t materialize, a more measured move for Thompson still makes sense. Detroit ranked middle of the pack in three-point shooting last year, and Cunningham faced double teams constantly. Thompson’s off-ball movement and willingness to launch from anywhere would open up the floor. He’s not a franchise-changer at this stage, but he’s the kind of catch-and-shoot threat that helps a young team take the next step without surrendering major assets.
It’s not flashy. But the Pistons have been patient. Thompson could be the kind of low-risk, high-floor addition that pushes them past the second round.
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