Why the Mavericks are more likely to trade Klay Thompson than bet on a revival

Heading into Klay Thompson's third full season with the Dallas Mavericks, the team seems more likely to trade him for assets rather than bet on him turning back the clock and contributing to a bounce-back season. Masai Ujiri has made it clear that Dallas is focused on building a future contender around Cooper Flagg rather than rushing to win a title right now, making Thompson's fit shaky at best.

He was honest about this during his exit interview last month, saying he was unsure he would be back next season.

"Not sure," Thompson said. "I’m under contract, so, I do, but I've definitely learned my time in Dallas, things can change on a dime, so, I’m just here to have a great time and put my best foot forward."

His answer to this hard-hitting question included smiles, a laugh, and a pause, as the sharpshooter thought of how he would like to respond. He knows that nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, and his performance this season is a major indicator of why his time in Dallas is likely running out.

Klay Thompson's decline is impossible to ignore

The 2025-26 season was among the worst of Thompson's career, as he averaged a career-low 11.7 points per game while shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc. He has been a shell of himself for most of his Mavericks tenure, and since he's already 36 years old, it should be assumed that he isn't going to have a huge resurgence next season.

His best days are unfortunately behind him, and Mavericks fans need to accept that reality.

His production decreased mightily after Luka Doncic was traded in February of 2025, and he hasn't been the same player since.

The team Thompson expected to be playing for in Dallas is long gone, bringing him to a crossroads this offseason. Does he want to finish off his contract with the Mavericks and be part of the rebuild? Or would he rather go try to win a title in the twilight of his career?

The Mavericks' rebuild makes Thompson expendable

He signed with the Mavericks to play alongside Doncic and contend for titles, and they've missed the playoffs in both of his seasons with the team. This is the first time since Thompson's rookie year that his team has missed the playoffs while he was healthy, and the Mavericks' future vision has changed significantly.

Dallas went from having championship aspirations to rebuilding around a 19-year-old prodigy, putting Thompson in an awkward position.

There were rumors that he wanted to play for a contender ahead of last season's trade deadline, but Dallas decided to keep him. Thompson was clearly frustrated with the Mavericks' losing, but there's no guarantee that much will change next year. Dallas should be in a position to be a play-in team, but that's not the same as being one of the best teams in the West as they once were.

This reality could push Thompson to ask for a trade, or the new front office could just shop him on the open market. Ujiri and Mike Schmitz are going to make the Mavericks their team, and they're looking at things from top to bottom. If they think that they'd be better off trading Thompson for draft capital and a young piece, they'll likely make that swing.

Why a trade makes sense for both sides

Betting on a potential young piece and refurbishing Dallas' cupboard of draft capital is a more promising outcome for a young team than holding onto a player who no longer fits, making a Thompson trade by the Mavericks more likely than hoping he can become a contributor for them again.

Thompson remains a knockdown shooter who can get hot in an instant when paired with an all-world creator, but Dallas doesn't have that. Flagg has shown flashes that he can turn into an offensive engine, or a secondary playmaker at best, but they don't have the roster to best utilize the former Splash Brother. Kyrie Irving's return will help, but the Mavs still won't be in a position to tussle with the juggernauts of the Western Conference, such as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The probability of a revival from Thompson is slim, and the pros of him beginning to play better again are sharply outweighed by the benefits of sending him elsewhere in a trade.

Thompson knows what winning the NBA Finals feels like. He won four championships with the Golden State Warriors.

The four-time All-Star was also hoping that he could win his fifth in Dallas. The Mavericks are not in a position to make the NBA Finals right now, and they know that.

This makes fielding trade calls for Thompson likely, and contending teams are going to call about him.

Everything the Mavericks are saying indicates that they're ready to rebuild around Flagg, and entering his 14th season in the league, Thompson isn't the type of guy who young teams are dying to go get.

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