Klay Thompson’s name still carries a little extra sting in Cleveland, and that’s exactly why the Cavaliers should be paying attention.
For years, Thompson and the Warriors were the team Cavs fans loved to hate. Golden State beat Cleveland three times in four NBA Finals meetings, with the lone Cavaliers title standing as the unforgettable exception. Thompson was right in the middle of all of it, and even now there’s no pretending the bad blood vanished just because time passed.
But the NBA is a business, and yesterday’s enemy can become tomorrow’s solution. If Thompson is bought out by the Dallas Mavericks, as expected, Cleveland ought to be ready to move fast.
The fit makes too much sense to ignore. Thompson tormented the Cavs in those Finals battles, averaging 17.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 22 games while shooting 43 percent from the field and nearly 37 percent from deep. He had his quiet nights, sure, but he also delivered three 30-point games on the biggest stage.
Now, though, the conversation is less about revenge and more about what he can still provide. Thompson isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but the shot is still there, and that matters for a Cleveland team that needs more shooting in the worst way.
That need only grows if LeBron James returns home. James has never been a dependable three-point shooter, and the floor already gets crowded with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen operating inside. If James comes back, the Cavaliers would also likely lose either Max Strus or Sam Merrill, which would leave the rotation even thinner from the perimeter.
That’s where Thompson could slide in nicely off the bench.
He may no longer be an elite defender in the backcourt, but a smaller role in Cleveland could suit him. He could fill the Iman Shumpert role and be asked to do less offensively while still stretching the floor.
Thompson signed with Dallas because he believed it was a championship-level situation. Instead, the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, injuries piled up, and the whole setup changed. They also still don’t have a proven NBA coach.
Even in a down season, Thompson hit 38.3 percent of his threes. And if Cleveland wants a little extra satisfaction along with the shooting, there’s no cleaner twist than bringing in one of the Warriors’ old villains and letting him wear the other side for once.
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