Dallas never got the version of Klay Thompson it thought it signed and a clean split this offseason could benefit both sides.
Klay Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2024 expecting to become the third piece of one of the NBA's most dangerous offenses coming off an NBA Finals loss. The plan was simple: Luka Doncic created, Kyrie Irving scored and Thompson spaced the floor and punished defenses from 3-point range. It was a reasonable vision that lasted about six months.
Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025 and Irving tore his ACL the following month. Thompson spent the 2025-26 season as the veteran on a 26-56 roster built around an 18-year-old Cooper Flagg.
He appeared in 69 games, making eight starts while averaging 21.7 minutes, 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. His 38.3% mark from 3-point range was the lowest of his career. The situation was not his fault. The roster around him looked nothing like the one he agreed to join.
Thompson turns 37 in February. His $17.5 million player option for 2026-27 carries real financial implications for a Mavericks team trying to remain below the luxury tax while building around Cooper Flagg.
His production has declined since helping the Golden State Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship. That title came after he returned from a torn ACL and a torn Achilles suffered in consecutive seasons, one of the league's most impressive comebacks. Since then, his shooting efficiency has slipped, his defensive impact has declined and his role has continued to shrink.
The trade market exists, but it has limits; Thompson is an expiring contract with championship experience and an established shooting reputation. Contending teams will have interest. The question is how much they are willing to give up for a 37-year-old wing whose production no longer matches his reputation.
A buyout feels like the cleaner solution with Dallas gaining additional financial flexibility. Thompson also gains control over his next destination and the chance to join a contender that fits his game.
Neither side ended up where it expected. Given everything that changed after Thompson signed in Dallas, a buyout may be the best outcome for everyone involved.
