Klay Thompson’s Future with the Dallas Mavericks gets Murky Update amid Early Season Struggles

Klay Thompson is one of the most decorated players of his generation as a cornerstone of the Golden State Warriorsdynasty. Drafted 11th overall in 2011, the former Washington State standout gradually developed into one of the greatest shooters ever.

Klay went on to form the legendary “Splash Brothers” duo with Stephen Curry, revolutionizing the league’s emphasis on three-point offense. The Warriors put to rest the saying, “live by the three, die by the three”, making six NBA Finals while winning four Larry O’Brien trophies during their prime.

Thompson’s calm demeanor and ability to go from calm to blistering hot in an instant led to several iconic performances, including his record-breaking 37-point quarter against the Sacramento Kings.

In addition, Klay’s two-way impact was vital for the Warriors, as he’s consistently guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter players. The future Hall of Famer’s legacy is set, but Thompson still believes he has some quality years ahead of him at age 35.

Unfortunately, the veteran’s second season with the Dallas Mavericks has not gone according to plan so far, which has led to Jason Kidd benching the legendary shooting guard.

The Mavericks entered this regular season with high hopes, but a 3-8 start has already prompted fans to shout for the firing of General Manager Nico Harrison.

Unfortunately, according to a recent report, Thompson could be one of the casualties of this slow start as he looks to get his career back on track.

Klay Thompson’s time with the Dallas Mavericks might be coming to an end

Klay Thompson is currently on a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, signed in July 2024 as part of a rare six-team sign-and-trade deal.

The deal averages roughly $16.7 million per season, representing a significant pay cut from Klay’s Golden State contract but one that provided him with long-term security.

Thompson was therefore given a fresh start in Dallas, and, at the time, he was expected to provide veteran leadership and elite shooting alongsideLuka Doncic.

Of course, there have been numerous changes since then, but last season, the five-time All-Star played and started in 72 games, averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 39.1% from three-point range.

But now that the Mavericks’ two marquee stars, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, are injured, questions have popped up about whether the franchise should consider rebuilding around star rookie Cooper Flagg.

According to a recent report from Brett Siegel of National NBA Insider and Reporter for ClutchPoints, Thompson’s days with Dallas might be numbered as we get closer to the trade deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks are a dysfunctional organization right now

The Dallas Mavericks were once seen as one of the more functional organizations in the league, consistently making the playoffs around a single franchise superstar. Unfortunately, in the past year, dysfunction has gradually seeped into this organization due to a series of questionable roster decisions.

The 2025 trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick was universally condemned as one of the worst moves in franchise history, stripping the team of its generational superstar and long-term direction.

General Manager Nico Harrison has consequently faced sharp criticism for that decision, as well as inconsistent communication, which has created internal distrust and confusion within the organization. Currently, the roster construction is centered around two injury-prone stars who are both past the age of 30.

Yet, despite these moves, the Mavericks were thrown a lifeline this offseason when they shockingly won the NBA Draft Lottery and were able to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.

The former Duke standout was seen as a generational prospect heading into the draft, and he gives Dallas someone to build around should the Kyrie Irving-Anthony Davis experiment not work out.

Overall, even though Nico Harrison said the Mavericks were entering a “three- to-four-year” window to contend for a championship (this is year two), when they traded Doncic, ownership might pivot to the Cooper Flagg era sooner rather than later.

The Mavericks just fired their embattled General Manager which might trigger a full rebuild. So, while the news around Klay Thompson is discouraging right now, it might be best for the veteran shooting guard to pursue a change of scenery, considering the trajectory of the Dallas Mavericks.