Klay Thompson's Mavericks future just turned dark after Dallas' latest move

Dallas Mavericks fans got the news they were looking for over the weekend when it was announced that Khris Middleton wouldn't be asking for a buyout. Middleton is playing himself into another contract with Dallas this summer if he continues to play well, and him staying could mean that Klay Thompson is on the way out.

This season, Thompson is averaging career lows across the board with 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc. This is the first time that Thompson has shot below 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range, and his age has finally caught up to him.

Khris Middleton staying may cost Klay Thompson his roster spot

He isn't the same player that he once was at 36 years old, and the Mavericks could finally elect to move on after this season. Thompson was in trade rumors ahead of the trade deadline, and even though Dallas decided to hold onto him, the rumblings were undeniable.

He needs to be playing for a contender at this point in his career, and the Mavericks' current direction, combined with Middleton's emergence, could force him out the door before the final year of his contract.

Trading Thompson to a team that would better utilize his skill set makes sense for both sides, and a fresh start could help revitalize his career.

Even though Middleton has cooled off since his scorching-hot start as a Maverick, there is clearly a role for him in Dallas beyond this season. His ability to create for himself and others off the dribble, knock down open shots, and score at all three levels is intriguing, and they need as much offense as they can get heading into the 2026-27 season.

Their bench unit lacks instant offense, and that's what Middleton brings.

Why re-signing Khris Middleton makes sense

On top of Middleton's obvious fit in Dallas due to his relationship with Jason Kidd, experience, and well-rounded offensive game, Mavericks fans should also read the tea leaves of him electing to stay rather than pursue a buyout. Dallas gave him a choice, but he chose to stay.

There were many reasons for this, including keeping his bird rights, but this could also mean the Mavs are considering bringing him back next season. They've already let him know that they need some shooting heading into next season, and the rest of the 2025-26 season could be a dress rehearsal for both sides to see how the fit looks in a larger sample size.

Dallas can't afford to rebuild next season since they don't own their first-round pick, and they should be in a good position to return to the playoffs. Whether or not Middleton is a part of this remains to be seen, but it at least makes sense to re-sign him.

The guys seem to like him on and off the court, and Dallas has been a great fit for the former Texas A&M Aggie. On the other hand, this is not the Thompson that Klay Thompson thought he was stepping into a few summers ago.

This isn't the Mavericks team Klay Thompson signed up for

Dallas signed Thompson in the summer of 2024 following their loss in the NBA Finals to give them some much-needed shooting.

The Mavericks' role players disappeared from beyond the arc on the biggest stage against the Boston Celtics, and this was ultimately one of the biggest reasons they lost that series. Dallas hoped Thompson would help their shooting get back on track, and while he has had a strong run and many great moments on the Mavericks, this is not the team that he signed up to play for.

Thompson was excited to play with Luka Doncic, and he viewed himself as the team's missing piece to get back to the NBA Finals. He had the shooting, championship pedigree, and veteran leadership to help Dallas get where they wanted to go, and Dallas' 2024-25 roster looked stronger than the team that went to the finals.

Despite this, the Mavericks made the biggest trade in franchise history just over halfway into Thompson's Mavericks career. They sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the one player whom Thompson wanted to play with most was sent away without warning.

Thompson has suffered from the Doncic trade as much as anyone, as he no longer has an all-world creator to play with. He thought that the Mavericks would be contending for titles when he signed a three-year deal to play in Dallas, but instead, they'll be in the lottery for his first two years with the team.

This is nowhere close to what he expected, and unfortunately for him, Middleton's presence may force Dallas to consider trading him this offseason.

The Mavericks could try to keep both players, but they're both only getting older, and Dallas only has so much roster space to play with. They need as much shooting as possible, which could lead them to keep Thompson, but Middleton's play could force the Mavericks to have some tough conversations about their other veteran sharpshooter, Klay Thompson.