Klay Thompson’s name is back in the mix in Golden State, and this time the talk feels a lot more real than nostalgia. Two years after leaving the Warriors for Dallas, the four-time champion could be on the move again, with the Bay Area suddenly looking like a possible landing spot if the Mavericks let him out of his deal.
Thompson’s exit to Dallas in 2024 was supposed to give him a fresh start. Instead, the Mavericks have now shifted toward a Cooper Flagg rebuild, and that has reopened the door to a reunion with Stephen Curry and the franchise where Thompson won four titles as part of the Splash Brothers.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, Warriors sources have said Thompson would be welcomed back with open arms if he lands a buyout and becomes a free agent. The catch is that Dallas does not appear eager to make that easy. The Mavericks would rather work out a trade and pull back some value than simply let him walk.
Thompson has already put his own goals out there. On a Twitch livestream last week, he made it plain what he wants from the next stop in his career: "I want to compete for a championship," Thompson said. "Not necessarily win another one, but have the chance to try again."
He also made his feelings about Golden State clear when asked earlier this year about a possible return. "It'd be nice to end it in Golden State," Thompson said.
For the Warriors, the timing matters because Stephen Curry’s next move is hanging over everything. Curry can sign a two-year extension worth a little over $136 million on Aug. 29, and reports say he is in no hurry to do it. That patience reads like a message to the front office after a quiet offseason that included missing out on LeBron James.
Golden State has treated this season more like a holding pattern than a full-on push, leaning into internal development instead of going all-in on major additions. That leaves the roster in a tricky place, with nearly the entire core - including Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler - entering the final guaranteed year of their contracts.
A Thompson return would not solve every question facing the Warriors, but it would give Curry another familiar piece as the team tries to figure out whether the next step is one more run or a longer reset.
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