Klay Thompson has one season left on his contract, and the veteran sharpshooter never signed up to help a team rebuild.
The Dallas Mavericks' 2025-26 season is officially over, which means offseason speculation can now run wild. All eyes are on the NBA Draft Lottery, where Dallas has the eighth-best odds at the top pick.
However, Dallas is poised to do more than just draft a premier young talent. With trade assets like Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Klay Thompson all commanding some value around the NBA, expect the Mavs to be major players. Plus, they have one of the bigger free agency budgets in the league after Khris Middleton is off the books.
While Thompson is long past his prime, his steady shooting and locker room presence would be a welcome addition to a contender. He still has a season left under contract, and he seems to think his days in Dallas are numbered.
Klay Thompson Addresses NBA Trade Rumors
Klay Thompson never signed up to be on a rebuilding team.
In fact, that's one of the major reasons why he left the Golden State Warriors in the first place. He saw the writing on the wall and thought he could have a bigger role on a better team alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Irving spent the season injured, and Thompson only got to play a half-season next to Doncic before he was inexcusably traded. The veteran sharpshooter is well aware that he could be next on the chopping block.
"I'm not sure," he said when asked if he expects to be in Dallas next season. "I mean, I'm under contract, so I do, but I've definitely learned my time in Dallas that things can change on a dime. So I'm just here to have a great time and put my best foot forward, and that's all you can do."
Thompson did not have his best season by any measure, but did average an efficient 11.7 points, proving he can be valuable in the starting five or off the bench. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons were linked to him before the trade deadline, and as the Mavericks continue to surround Flagg with young talent, flipping Thompson to a team ready to compete in exchange for future assets makes sense.
Thompson's comment suggests that he isn't married to the idea of finishing out his career in Dallas, and while that might be disheartening to hear, fans have to understand that the Luka trade effectively closed the door on Thompson ever winning another ring.
That has to sting a bit.