Mavericks' smartest Klay Thompson move right now is nothing at all

Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson has been in trade rumors for the first time in his Mavericks career this summer, but the best move for Dallas to make right now is nothing at all. Moving on from Thompson this summer makes sense, as he is no longer on the Mavericks' timeline and they need an additional roster spot before next season begins.

Still, Dallas needs to wait for a good trade before doing anything.

Dallas needs to slow-play things with Klay Thompson

A buyout wouldn't make much sense. Some team will get desperate for shooting this offseason, and Dallas will have Thompson on the roster, ready to capitalize. If they buy him out, they wouldn't receive any assets for one of the greatest shooters of all time.

Considering that a deal hasn't happened yet, it doesn't seem like Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz are receiving a surplus of trade offers for Thompson. They've been open to trading him for some time now, and patience here could pay off in the long run.

The Miami Heat are the most prominent suitor for the four-time NBA champion, as they are focused on acquiring Thompson. They desperately need more shooting after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the player who has knocked down 2,899 threes over 934 career games would be a great solution to this deficiency.

Thompson still provides elite floor spacing and 3-point shooting at 36 years old, and he'd be a great fit in Miami. But until the Heat, or a different team, give Dallas a strong trade offer, they need to stand pat.

Klay Thompson's trade market could heat up

Other teams are interested in acquiring Thompson as well, but it seems like they're trying to wait and see if he gets bought out rather than trading for him. This is obviously a smart approach, as not giving up assets is ideal for these teams, but it's far from ideal for Dallas.

Thompson should still be able to generate some buzz on the open market due to his veteran leadership, championship experience, and knockdown shooting, and the fact that he's on an expiring contract is the cherry on top. Any team that trades for Thompson will be able to get out of his contract after just one season if things don't work out. If things do go well, they have a clear path to retain him in free agency.

Thompson isn't some negative asset. He's a five-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and one of the best shooters to ever play. Shooting is a necessity in today's NBA, and if the Mavericks do nothing rather than rushing into a buyout, a deal should come across the table.

The Mavericks should be in no rush to make a decision about Thompson's future, and until trade offers start rolling in, the best plan for Dallas is to stay patient and maximize his value.

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