When Klay Thompson joined forces with Luka Doncic, the vision was to create a dynamic duo that could light up the court. But as sports often remind us, not every plan pans out. Now, the buzz around the league is that Doncic's Los Angeles Lakers might be considering a reunion with Thompson.
For the Dallas Mavericks, this could be the perfect opportunity to stir up a little market frenzy. Picture a mini-bidding war, if you will.
The Lakers and the Houston Rockets are both on the lookout for a sharpshooter, and Thompson fits that bill. But if Dallas wants to maximize their return, they'll need more than just two teams in the mix.
A third suitor could really spice things up.
Even at 36, Thompson's still got game. Last season, he put up 11.7 points per game while hitting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
And he did it without a top-tier playmaker setting him up, a role Doncic once filled before his move to LA. Thompson's in the final year of his $17.46 million contract, which means he carries value both as a player and as an expiring contract.
So, NBA teams, the invitation is open: come and get him!
The Lakers, with LeBron James, have some soul-searching to do about their future before making any blockbuster moves. Meanwhile, in Houston, keeping Kevin Durant content is the top priority. A reunion with a former Splash Brother might just need Durant's stamp of approval.
As for the Mavericks, should they absorb some of the financial load to make a deal happen? With the team focusing on a Cooper Flagg-centric rebuild under new head coach Dusty May, holding onto Thompson might not make much sense.
It's a shame things didn't click for Thompson in Dallas, but this isn't the end of his journey. There's still some mileage left in the future Hall of Famer, and the Mavericks have a chance to capitalize by paving a couple of competitive paths for his departure.
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For now, though, the buzz comes with plenty of caution tape. NBA insider Jake Fischer has said Dallas is not viewed as a plausible destination at this stage, and he added that the league has not yet indicated it would stop a Leonard deal outright. Even so, the combination of the trade cost and the questions surrounding Leonards long-term future makes this feel more like background noise than a real path forward, at least until the market tells a different story. [Read more 🡒]