After a season apart, a proposed three-team trade could see Klay Thompson return home to the Golden State Warriors and reunite with longtime teammates Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The deal also offers the Warriors a graceful exit from the ongoing Jonathan Kuminga drama while bringing back one of their franchise icons for what could be a final championship run.
Here’s the structure of the deal:
Golden State Warriors Receive: Klay Thompson (via Mavericks), 2030 Sacramento Kings first-round pick (via Kings)
Sacramento Kings Receive: Brandon Williams (via Mavericks), Jonathan Kuminga (via Warriors)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Malik Monk (via Kings)
Klay Thompson Comes Back Home
The narrative of Thompson’s departure last offseason was bittersweet. After 13 seasons with the Warriors, including four NBA titles, the sharpshooting guard parted ways with the team in free agency.
Ironically, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks for less than what the Warriors had previously offered, citing a desire for a fresh start. In Dallas, Thompson averaged 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 41.2% from the field and 39.1% from three, a solid yet clearly diminished role from his prime.
Now, circumstances may be aligning for a storybook reunion. The Warriors have retooled aggressively, acquiring Jimmy Butler at last season’s trade deadline and signaling they are once again in win-now mode.
Adding Thompson, whose bond with Curry and Green is legendary, would help preserve team chemistry and give Golden State fans a chance to see the trio retire together. It’s the kind of sentimental send-off few dynasties get.
The Kings Get The Young Star They Wanted
On the flip side, the deal provides clarity and closure for the Warriors regarding Jonathan Kuminga. The 22-year-old forward, who averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season on 45.4% shooting, has reportedly rejected extension offers and made his frustrations with the team’s direction known.
Though talented, Kuminga’s development has been hindered by inconsistent usage and stylistic clashes with head coach Steve Kerr’s system. Sending him to the Sacramento Kings in a sign-and-trade would give both parties a clean break.
The Kings, meanwhile, are betting big on upside. Kuminga still holds immense two-way potential and could flourish in a faster-paced, more free-flowing offense.
Brandon Williams, who quietly averaged 8.3 points on 52.1% shooting and a scorching 40.0% from deep, gives the Kings an underrated rotational piece with upside.
The Mavericks Add Bench Depth
As for the Dallas Mavericks, they get one of the league’s most explosive bench scorers in Malik Monk. He posted 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game last season, and his ability to create offense would be a seamless fit.
For a Mavericks team still reeling from a disappointing season, adding Monk helps replenish their depth.
All Three Teams Walk Away With Valuable Pieces
Ultimately, this trade solves multiple problems in one stroke. It ends the Kuminga saga, brings Klay Thompson home for what could be his final NBA chapter, and improves depth for both the Kings and Mavericks.
For Golden State, it’s a chance to chase one last ring with the core that changed basketball history, and maybe, finish their journey where it all began.
