Klay Thompson left the Golden State Warriors for the Dallas Mavericks, hoping he could compete for a title. After Nico Harrison traded away Luka Doncic, Thompson might be regretting changing jerseys.
In a weird way, it's hard not to feel bad for Klay Thompson. Yes, he left the Golden State Warriors on less-than-ideal terms to team up with their Western Conference rival Dallas Mavericks, but at that point, who could blame him?
He had seemingly been passed up in the rotation by Brandin Podziemski, and the Warriors seemed to be on their last legs, anyway. The Mavericks, meanwhile, were coming off a Finals appearance. Thompson's shooting seemed to be the thing they needed to get over the hump.
How could Thompson have predicted that the Mavericks would trade away Luka Doncic, and then both Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving would suffer major injuries?
How could he have expected that Cooper Flagg would take over the team, altering the competitive timeline for the once-win-now franchise?
As the Mavericks change direction and embrace youth, Thompson is one of several veterans included in trade rumors.
In the not-so-distant past, a reunion with Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, and the Warriors seemed far-fetched. However, as Golden State searches for veteran talent to help build a playoff-worthy roster, Thompson could be a welcome addition.
Curry, at least, wants his Splash Brother back.
"I wish he was still here," Curry told ESPN. "If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course, I'm calling him and saying, 'We want you back.' And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him. But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far-distant reality. But so did him leaving."
Curry doesn't seem to think there's a real chance that Thompson will return to Golden State. Balancing his $16.6 million salary isn't the easiest thing in the world, and his decreased offensive prowess makes sending multiple draft picks to Dallas tricky. In an effort to add young players around Flagg, the Mavericks might have to drive a hard bargain.
The Mavericks could send Thompson, D'Angelo Russell, and draft capital to the Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga in a massive splash for Dallas, or they could pull off a more subdued deal where they add Buddy Hield and smaller contracts in exchange for the veteran sharpshooter.
Thompson didn't exactly leave Golden State on good terms, although it seems to be water under the bridge. Thanks to his veteran leadership and winning pedigree, he still has value to a win-now team, although the Mavericks shouldn't be expected to get a massive haul for him, provided they take the next step to make him officially available.