Spurs Eyeing Klay Thompson as Potential Buyout Boost Ahead of Playoff Push
As the NBA heads into the All-Star break, the San Antonio Spurs find themselves in unfamiliar-but very welcome-territory. Sitting just three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, they hold the second-best record in the Western Conference.
That’s not a typo. The Spurs have gone from fringe playoff hopefuls to legitimate title contenders in a matter of months, and it’s been anything but a fluke.
Victor Wembanyama has lived up to the All-Star billing and then some, while De’Aaron Fox has brought the kind of veteran composure and two-way impact that playoff teams crave. But this isn’t just a two-man show. The supporting cast has stepped up when it’s mattered most, and head coach Gregg Popovich has once again found a way to get the most out of his roster.
Still, there’s one glaring weakness that could hold San Antonio back when the postseason intensity ramps up: perimeter shooting.
The Spurs currently rank 22nd in the league in three-point percentage, converting just 34.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team with championship aspirations in an era where spacing and shooting are non-negotiable. Harrison Barnes has struggled to find consistency in recent weeks, and while Devin Vassell has shown flashes of elite shot-making, his injury history makes it hard to rely on him as a long-term solution.
With Jeremy Sochan recently waived, the Spurs now have an open roster spot-and they may already have their sights set on a proven sharpshooter to fill it.
Enter: Klay Thompson.
The five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is currently with the Dallas Mavericks, but his future there is anything but certain. After Dallas dealt away Anthony Davis, the franchise sent a clear signal that they’re pivoting away from contention and toward a rebuild.
That’s not exactly what Thompson signed up for when he joined the Mavericks in 2024 following their Finals run. He came to Dallas to compete for titles alongside Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić, not to ride out the twilight of his career on a team hitting the reset button.
This season, Thompson is shooting 37.5% from three-a mark that would instantly make him one of the most reliable perimeter threats on the Spurs' roster. For a team that desperately needs floor spacing to unlock driving lanes for Fox and create room for Wembanyama in the paint, adding a shooter of Thompson’s caliber could be a game-changer.
Of course, there’s a domino effect that needs to fall first. The Mavericks would have to agree to a buyout, and Thompson would need to be willing to leave money on the table. He’s under contract for $17.5 million next season, but for a chance to join a playoff-bound team and play meaningful basketball again, there’s reason to believe he’d consider it.
The Spurs, with cap flexibility and a clear need, are in a strong position to make a move if Thompson hits the market. And let’s not overlook the narrative here-Klay chasing a ring without the Golden State core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr adds an extra layer of intrigue. San Antonio presents a unique opportunity: a team on the rise, a coach who knows how to manage veteran talent, and a system that could use exactly what Thompson brings to the table.
If this buyout scenario plays out, the Spurs wouldn’t just be adding a shooter-they’d be adding one of the best to ever do it. And in a tightly packed Western Conference, that kind of move could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.