Klay Thompson's fall is becoming impossible for the Mavericks to ignore

The Dallas Mavericks saw Klay Thompson further decline in his first season with the franchise, and it is time to put him in a smaller role. The five-time All-Star wants to start and play significant minutes. He is still an elite shooter, even with his decline to around 39 percent from 3-point range. Thompson is not washed, but the 35-year-old is best suited for a bench role where Jason Kidd can maximize his production and impact.

He averaged 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 27.3 minutes per game last season. The 6’5 wing shot a career-worst 41.2 percent from the field and scored his fewest points since his rookie season in 2012. Thompson can no longer play 35 minutes every night, and it is on the coaching staff to get the most out of him.

Klay’s injury history and age suggest things will only get worse from here. It is small decreases across the board that have lessened his impact. The Mavs can’t just expect it to go away. They desperately need a plan on how to get the most from Thompson over the final two years of his contract.

Klay Thompson's decline must be addressed by the Mavericks

The 6’5 wing’s biggest step backward has come on the defensive end of the floor. He is no longer the elite defender who made second-team All-Defense in 2019. Missing the next two seasons sapped his athleticism and quickness. Thompson is a below-average defender at this stage, which can be problematic for the entire team.

Dallas was 2.7 points per 100 possessions worse on defense with Klay on the floor last season. It resulted in the Mavericks being outscored by 2.1 points per 100 in his minutes. That is problematic for a team with aspirations of making the playoffs. Having a starter with a negative net rating puts more pressure on the bench. The Mavs must avoid that at all costs with their mismatched roster.

Playmaking has become problematic on the offensive end. Klay Thompson is one of the best catch-and-shoot marksmen in NBA history. Kyrie Irving’s injury and the Luka Doncic trade have left Dallas light on ball-handling. That won’t change to begin this season as Dallas plans to rely on score-first guard D’Angelo Russell and number one overall draft pick Cooper Flagg as their primary creators until Kyrie is healthy.

Head coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks can’t just sweep this problem under the rug. Klay wants to start and close games, but the franchise must do what is best for them. That likely means limiting his minutes and choosing the right moments to maximize his talents. It may be easier for coach Kidd to do that if Thompson is coming off the bench.

This problem is not going away for the Dallas Mavericks. Klay Thompson is under contract until 2027 and will likely decline further. The franchise would be wise to get ahead of the situation now because it will only get messier the longer they wait.