Klay's future? All he cares about is "competing for a championship."
Klay Thompson is on the Dallas Mavericks, as the roster is currently constructed.
But there is no guarantee that that will be the case when the team begins the 2026-27 season on the road against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21 ... or even before then.
Dallas is one player over the maximum 15 spots allowed for an opening-day roster.
Among the players who could depart, Thompson, 36, is a likely candidate because his age does not exactly fit the future-focused timeline of the core around teenage star Cooper Flagg. Kyrie Irving, 34, doesn't quite fit, either, but coming off an injury, Irving has yet to prove whether he should be taken out of the lineup over Thompson.
Still, the veteran sharpshooter is keeping a level head by prioritizing the end goal for this stage of his career.
"I want to compete for a championship, not necessarily win one, but just have the chance to go and try and get another one," Thompson said on Plaqueboymax's livestream. "I want to play a role on a team that I want to make a deep playoff run."
Dallas underwhelmed last season, but Thompson increased his production steadily in his new bench role last season. The 13-year pro shot a respectable 38 percent from behind the arc.
That's a far cry from the marksmanship he had with his former Golden State Warriors during their run to four titles. Still, Thompson's late push - nailing 41 percent from 3-point range in the last full month of the season - was enough for teams to keep their interest.
The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers are being mentioned the most in Thompson talks. League insider Marc Stein believes the Mavs have held their stance on how the shooting guard might be moved.
READ MORE: Top 10 Takeaways from Mavs Schedule Release
"The Stein Line has learned that there has indeed been direct contact this offseason between new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri and Thompson, but Dallas has maintained since mid-June that it prefers to trade Thompson if possible rather than buy him out," Stein said.
"Two sources briefed on the process said this week that it remains unclear how the situation will play out," Stein added. "... Thompson's fate remained undecided as of Sunday.”
It's appearing that Dallas could move Thompson in a trade to reach their 15-player maximum, and if he remains on the roster for opening night, Thompson remains a trade candidate if the Mavs have yet to show they can contend for a title in 2027.
