The Dallas Mavericks have entered a new era, building around Cooper Flagg. With Masai Ujiri leading the front office and Jason Kidd no longer on the sidelines, it has been an offseason of change for the Mavs. These changes will continue with the personnel, as anyone not named Cooper Flagg should be available for the right price.
Since the Mavs are not going to be contenders for the foreseeable future, they need to be in asset accumulation mode. They need to be willing to listen to offers for any veteran with trade value.
This obviously includes Klay Thompson. The 36-year-old sharpshooter is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $17.4 million. At this stage of his career, the veteran shooting guard presumably wants to be on a playoff team. Instead of potentially losing him for nothing next summer, the Mavs should try to trade him now.
Why does it make sense for Mavericks to trade Klay Thompson?
It's been a noisy last two seasons for the Mavericks organization, and for obvious reasons that start with the names Luka Doncic and end with Anthony Davis. Thompson was expected to take a step back with the Mavs, but still be that shooter who can get hot in a hurry. That all changed when Doncic was traded, and the Mavericks' philosophy instantly changed to "defense wins championships."
Thompson is not the same player he was back in 2018, but he's still a four-time champion who can be the ultimate bench piece for a championship-contending team. On this list are two potential deep playoff contenders, but there's one team that's on the list as one of the oldest in NBA history, and proximity makes it make sense.
Here are three teams that suit the veteran sharpshooter best.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons desperately need more shooting. They will be going after bigger fish this summer, as they are expected to pursue stars. They could be Kyrie Irving suitors, as well. Even with Duncan Robinson, one of the more consistent shooters in the game, the Pistons broke down in Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals.
Regardless of who else the Pistons acquire, Thompson is an excellent fit. He would bring championship experience to a team hungry for playoff success and provide much-needed spacing.
The Pistons have plenty of matching salary, flexibility, and assets to make this trade work, making them an attractive trade partner. Even if all it takes is just a mid-sized contract like Caris LeVert and a second-round pick, the Mavs should be willing to do business with Detroit.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets are basically the Western Conference version of the Pistons. They have size, physicality, and athleticism, but they need more shooting to become contenders.
Thompson could provide that shooting. A reunion with Kevin Durant could be appealing for both former Warriors as they hope to contend at the dawn of their careers.
Thompson is not the defender he was earlier in his career. He can play only limited minutes and be a defensive liability against elite offenses. On the Rockets, this wouldn't be an issue. Surrounded by excellent defenders like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr., Thompson can focus on spacing the floor and providing veteran competence.
Los Angeles Clippers
Thompson would certainly be interested in heading home to L.A. this summer. Considering the Clippers' need for shooting, the interest could be mutual.
There is a ton of uncertainty surrounding the Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard's future hinging on the league's investigation into cap-circumvention allegations. If Leonard stays and the Clippers want to be as competitive as possible around Leonard and Darius Garland, trading for Klay would be a fascinating option.
The Clippers have some cap space this summer. They can bring Thompson in without sending back any significant salary. Given that they don't have an elite shooter around Garland and Leonard, shooting will presumably be a priority. Who can fill a shooting need better than the second-greatest shooter of all time?
Believe it or not, the Clippers may fit the mold perfectly. With veterans like Nicolas Batum, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Leonard, this would be the "old" team that makes sense in a way.
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