Klay Thompson's stunning Mavericks fall from grace is Nico Harrison's doing

The great ones often never see it coming. The ending of an illustrious career. Klay Thompson’s recent demotion to the bench hints at the beginning of the end. And Dallas has Nico Harrison to thank for that. The NBA trade heard round the world that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers has effectively put Thompson’s special set of skills in a chokehold.  Yes, they've been "Taken."

Some would say Thompson had delusions of grandeur when he decided to break up the “Splash Brothers” to graze greener pastures with the prodigy known as Luka Doncic. But I would disagree. Thompson had something to prove. And he was very serviceable in his 22 games with Doncic, producing respectable splits of 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. 

Chemistry was building, and Thompson’s optimism was high as ever. By season’s end, all the pieces were supposed to fit. But Thompson was dealt a fate straight from Mount Olympus, and now he seems to be headed to basketball purgatory.

Klay Thompson's rapid decline has Dallas searching for answers

His dream of spreading the floor for Doncic and Kyrie Irving is a distant memory. Now he relives a very real nightmare full of missed shots and extended time on the bench. Thompson’s catch-and-shoot skillset has become nonexistent because there is no way to duplicate Doncic’s on-court wizardry or the defensive gravity that Irving’s presence demands. D’Angelo Russell doesn’t seem to be the answer.

Thompson’s 7.6 points per game this season are a significant drop from his 14 points per game last season. And his current shooting splits of 26.4 percent from three and 31.6 percent from the field make him almost unplayable on a Dallas team desperate for shooting and spacing. A very tough pill to swallow for the guy who once scored 60 points with only 11 dribbles.

After being ravaged by injuries in recent years, Thompson doesn’t have the lift or lateral quickness to create separation on offense in a league that is getting more and more athletic at his position every year. So now he’s solely dependent on Dallas crafting offensive schemes that can get him good looks at the basket.

Irving and Davis' absence has allowed teams to negate the one thing Klay could do moderately well at this point in his career. And that's shooting the ball. Teams overplay his 3-point shot, and he's a step slower on the other end.

Thompson used to hang his hat on being one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. But now you have to hide him on defense or take him out of the game so elite wing players in the Western Conference, like Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, don’t take advantage of him. The problems are two-fold.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

However, I don’t place all the blame on Thompson. It’s Jason Kidd and the Dallas staff's job to put him in positions to succeed. A second unit that features Thompson as the primary offensive weapon could be a step in the right direction.

Recent trade rumors state that Dallas is gauging Thompson’s value on the open market, and this can’t be good for the psyche of a competitor like Thompson. He was able to muster up 11 points after being demoted to bench duty this past Wednesday vs the New Orleans Pelicans. But he followed that up with a lifeless 0 points on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Thompson missed Saturday’s game due to illness, and Naji Marshall took advantage of the extra minutes by scoring a season-high 30 points and leading Dallas to their first road victory of the season. Something tells me Thompson might be feeling sick for a different reason.

Thompson has always been known for his jovial and laid-back nature. Enjoying the water and spending time with his dog. Sadly, he's becoming more famous for his off-court relationship with rapper Megan Thee Stallion than his on-court production.

In my opinion, this is just as much a Dallas personnel issue as it is Thompson dealing with the reality of his own basketball mortality. But shipping Doncic and his famous skip passes out of town put the nail in the coffin.

Father Time has come to collect, and he's not leaving without his pound of flesh. If you listen softly, you can hear Klay Thompson’s Swan Song playing softly in the background.