Klay Thompson's days in Dallas are numbered, and these 3 teams should be calling

Klay Thompson’s days in Dallas are numbered, and these 3 teams should be calling originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks have not helped Klay Thompson add to his legacy as a four-time NBA champion, primarily because his integration into the roster never quite worked. Thompson arrived in the summer of 2024 with the promise of playing alongside Luka Doncic. But when the Slovenian star was traded in a blockbuster move on Christmas Day, the entire Mavs project shifted beneath his feet.

He stayed professional through the changes, playing 69 games this season. He posted the lowest numbers of his career as a starter, averaging 11.7 points per game and shooting 38.3% from three.

At his exit interview, he acknowledged his uncertain future, saying, “I’m under contract so I do [expect to be back], but I’ve definitely learned in my time in Dallas that things can change on a dime.”

Dallas is now rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 draft pick, focusing heavily on youth and defense under new team president Masai Ujiri. Thompson will make $17.45 million this coming season.

Since he is 36 and coming off a down year, trading his expiring contract now makes more sense for Dallas than letting him leave for nothing in free agency next summer. Three teams, in particular, make sense.

Houston Rockets

Houston has the size, athleticism, and perimeter defenders such as Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. to cover for Klay’s decline on defense. What the Rockets still lack is reliable outside shooting to pull defenders away from Alperen Sengun in the paint. 

Thompson is a master in that area, and his shooting could help turn Houston into a true contender. Joining a competitive Western Conference team fits his timeline, and it would reunite him with his former Golden State Warriors teammate, Kevin Durant.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are one of the league’s most exciting young teams, but they still lack perimeter shooting. Essentially, they are the Eastern Conference version of the Rockets. Adding him as a bench piece gives Detroit a proven spot-up threat who doesn’t need plays run for him. 

He spaces the floor and brings four championship rings to a developing locker room. A trade package built around matching salaries and a second-round pick would give the Mavs a movable contract and a future asset, while sending Thompson somewhere his shooting can still make an impact. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are the most obvious landing spot for Thompson, personally and professionally. He grew up in L.A., and the team is building around Kawhi Leonard on a veteran timeline. While Dallas still has Thompson under contract, the Mavericks are clearly focused on youth and asset accumulation rather than paying a 36-year-old shooting guard on a rebuilding roster.

Moreover, due to recent roster movements, the Clippers have significant cap flexibility. They can absorb Thompson’s $17.45 million expiring contract easily without being forced to send a massive matching salary back to Dallas.

So trading for Thompson is a fascinating option for them to build a contender around Leonard and Darius Garland for next season.

Thompson is no longer the two-way, “Splash Brother” version who won four titles in Golden State. But on the right team, in the right role, he’s a legitimate rotation piece heading into what could be his final contract year. Keeping him in Dallas helps nobody, especially not Thompson.

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