Klay Thompson shuts down Mavericks' biggest trade fear in seconds with blunt response

Amid everything that has gone wrong for the Dallas Mavericks over the last few weeks, Klay Thompson has been unshaken, and his production has reached an entirely different level from what we saw from him earlier in the season. With several of his key teammates battling injuries, Thompson has stepped up to the plate and delivered in his expanded role as he is the only usual starter currently healthy.

Over the last four games, Thompson is averaging 23.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from downtown. He is proving that he can take his game to the next level and be a primary option on offense when needed, and he isn't shying away from the spotlight as he is averaging 32.7 minutes per game over the last four games and is playing with urgency, regardless of all of the outside noise recommending that Dallas should tank.

Thompson still thinks the Mavericks can go on a playoff run this season, and Mavericks fans' biggest fear about him following the Luka Doncic trade dissipated following what Thompson said on Tuesday night.

After the Mavs traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of last month and Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, fans feared that Thompson would want to be traded after this season considering that he came to Dallas to play with Doncic and compete for a championship. These fans thought that the franchise had disrespected Thompson in a way, as what he signed up for in Dallas was drastically different from the present reality.

Klay Thompson shuts down trade speculation with honest take

Thompson silenced this narrative that he wanted a trade out of Dallas after a win over the San Antonio Spurs earlier this week, allowing fans to take a big sigh of relief.

"I still believe in this franchise," Thompson told reporters on Tuesday night. "I'm here for two more seasons after this, so I'd love to help them return to glory that they were brought to in 2011."

Thompson's message was quick and clear as he doubled down on his loyalty to the Mavericks after the win, and it doesn't sound like he has any plans of requesting a trade out of Dallas any time soon. He still feels strongly about the team, even during this rough patch, and it sounds like he is still fully invested in winning his fifth ring as a Maverick over the next few years. That was one of his main goals when he signed with Dallas over the summer, and that goal has not changed.

While the Mavericks may not be equipped for an NBA Finals run this year due to injuries, that doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Next season, Dallas' dominant center trio of Dereck Lively II, Anthony Davis, and Daniel Gafford should be healthy, and Irving should be able to return at some point in 2026 before the playoffs. Davis has proved that he remains one of the best bigs in the NBA, and a full offseason of preparation should have him properly prepared for whatever role the Mavericks assign him.

Dallas still has one of the most stacked rosters in the Western Conference with Thompson, Lively II, Davis, and Irving at the core, and it sounds like Thompson will remain in that star-studded core for years to come.