The summer of 2026 has come with plenty of player movement already, and there may still be more left to see. In Dallas, as the Mavericks continue their full-blown rebuild, the status of NBA veteran and four-time champion Klay Thompson has become increasingly doubtful.
At this point, it’s clear that Klay doesn’t fit their long-term timeline, and that’s why teams across the league have him circled as a top buyout option. But according to Blacker Report’s Jake Fischer, the Mavericks are not so keen on just letting Klay go. With noted interest in the NBA veteran, they are determined to find a trade and get some assets in return, even if it means keeping him on the team for some time.
“To this point, Dallas has not been looking to find a buyout agreement with Klay Thompson… the Mavericks have been very hesitant, to my understanding, of actually moving forward and agreeing to a buyout with Klay Thompson,” reported Jake Fischer. “They believe this market that is shaping up for him; the fact that there is some LA, some Miami interest, there’s other places that have interest as well. We’ve talked in the past about how, if he were to find a buyout agreement, there’d be mutual interest between Klay and the Golden State Warriors. I think all that is indicative of why Dallas believes they should not have to buy out Klay Thompson.”
Klay, 36, signed with Dallas in 2024, back when Luka Doncic was still running the show. At the time, he was hoping to play with Luka for years to come and lead the Mavericks to prosperity together, but Doncic was traded before they ever gained any real traction as partners. Ever since, it’s been nothing but downhill for Klay and the Mavericks, who have faded into obscurity in the Western Conference.
As a 36-year-old sharpshooter with championship experience, it’s no wonder why Klay was getting attention from teams like the Lakers and Heat, who desperately need affordable, perimeter shooters. If he goes to Miami or LA, Thompson could compete for one last championship to set his legacy and end his career on the ultimate high note.
Alternatively, he could go back to the Warriors and finish where it started. By reuniting with Stephen Curry, he can get the storybook ending he deserves and run it back one last time with the old crew before it’s all said and done. Unfortunately for Klay, however, it may not be so easy to find a new situation.
With $17.4 million owed in 2026-27, Klay is under contract with the Mavericks, and they alone can decide what happens next. As much as they want to give Thompson a chance to move on, they won’t let him go for nothing unless they have to. But with multiple teams in pursuit of the veteran sharpshooter, who averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 39.3% shooting from the field last season, there’s a good chance that a team would be willing to give them some assets in return for his expiring contract.
Either way, don’t expect Klay Thompson to just freely navigate to a team of his choosing. The Mavericks still have control over his future, and they are determined to get something back for his talents.
