Klay Thompson’s move to the Dallas Mavericks was supposed to be a fresh chapter - a chance to chase another ring with a team that had just come off a Finals run and looked poised to stay in the contender conversation. But just a few months later, things have taken a dramatic turn, and Thompson suddenly finds himself in an all-too-familiar place: navigating uncertainty.
When Thompson left Golden State, it was clear the writing was on the wall. The Warriors were transitioning, and his role had diminished.
Brandin Podziemski was getting more minutes, and the dynasty that once ruled the league seemed to be running out of gas. So Thompson bet on the Mavericks - a team that looked like it was one piece away from getting over the hump.
His elite shooting, playoff experience, and championship pedigree seemed like a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
But nobody saw this coming.
First, the Mavericks shocked the league by trading away Doncic - the franchise cornerstone and one of the most dominant offensive engines in basketball. Then, injuries hit hard.
Both Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving went down with significant setbacks, throwing the team’s short-term plans into chaos. And just like that, the Mavericks’ trajectory shifted.
Enter Cooper Flagg.
The rookie phenom has taken over the spotlight in Dallas, and with his rapid rise, the Mavericks are clearly leaning into a youth movement. That leaves veterans like Thompson in a strange spot - still capable, still valuable, but no longer aligned with the team’s new timeline.
Naturally, trade rumors have started to swirl around Thompson again.
And while a return to the Bay once seemed like a long shot, it’s not completely off the table anymore. The Warriors are reportedly exploring ways to retool around Stephen Curry, and veteran help is high on their list. Thompson, despite the awkward departure, could be exactly what they need - a familiar face who knows the system, brings leadership, and can still knock down shots when it counts.
Curry, for one, hasn’t closed the door.
“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.”
It’s a telling quote. Curry clearly hasn’t lost any love for his longtime backcourt partner, but he also understands the business side.
Thompson’s $16.6 million salary isn’t easy to move, and his declining offensive production complicates any potential trade. The Mavericks, now focused on building around Flagg, won’t give him away for free.
There are a few paths Dallas could take. One scenario being floated involves sending Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, and draft picks to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga - a bold move that would add a proven scorer to the Warriors while giving the Mavericks a young, athletic forward to pair with Flagg.
Another option? A more modest deal that brings in Buddy Hield and some smaller contracts, giving Dallas flexibility while still offloading a veteran piece.
Whatever happens, it’s clear Thompson’s time in Dallas hasn’t gone the way anyone expected - least of all him.
He may not be the All-NBA force he once was, but there’s still a place in this league for a player like Klay Thompson. He brings championship DNA, a steady locker room presence, and a jumper that can still swing playoff games. Whether that next chapter includes a reunion with Curry and the Warriors remains to be seen, but in a league that moves fast and never stops evolving, nothing’s off the table.