According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Dallas Mavericks have been hesitant to buy out Klay Thompson due to the strong interest from the Lakers and Heat.

The Mavericks want to make things difficult for the Heat or Lakers while leveraging the situation to their advantage. The team knows that releasing him through a buyout would allow him to immediately join and strengthen a direct rival, whereas a potential trade could yield assets that help its own roster.

Does a trade benefit the Mavericks?

Thompson’s departure does not mean Dallas would completely solve its roster logjam, as specific positions remain overcrowded where those minutes could be utilized elsewhere. According to The Stein Line’s Marc Stein, Thompson could be the odd man out amid the team’s congestion, which suggests the best course of action might be letting him become a free agent in the NBA.

“Even if Thompson ultimately moves on this offseason, either via trade or buyout, that’s quite a logjam for first-year coach Dusty May, who also has five big men to find minutes for: (Daniel) Gafford, Derek Lively II, Moussa Cisse, recently acquired Santi Aldama, and first-round pick Morez Johnson Jr.”

It remains to be seen what the franchise plans over the coming weeks, as the front office could look to bolster other areas of need or depth. However, Thompson remains the key piece driving its decision-making and the potential return it can extract from him.

Lakers as the most intriguing destination

Thompson, who nearly joined Los Angeles before signing with Dallas in 2024, would be receptive to returning to the city, according to The Athletic’s Christian Clark. The 36-year-old spent part of his childhood in the Los Angeles area and maintains a home nearby.

Yet, Thompson’s departure would not solve everything for the Mavericks. The Stein Line’s Marc Stein noted that with the trade for Zaccharie Risacher and the three-year, $52.2 million contract extension for Naji Marshall, Thompson could be the odd man out amid the team’s congestion.

“(Cooper) Flagg. Risacher. Marshall. (PJ) Washington. Max Christie (who also became extension-eligible this summer). Thompson. Tarik Biberovic. Caleb Martin. Those are the eight swingmen currently on Dallas’ roster,” wrote Stein on his Substack.

“Even if Thompson ultimately moves on this offseason, either via trade or buyout, that’s quite a logjam for first-year coach Dusty May, who also has five big men to find minutes for: (Daniel) Gafford, Derek Lively II, Moussa Cisse, recently acquired Santi Aldama, and first-round pick Morez Johnson Jr.”

Klay still a key piece

Thompson, who is also being linked to the Miami Heat, is clearly not the same player following major injuries, but he remains a serviceable guard off the bench who can catch fire at any given moment.

However, with the Mavericks last season, the four-time champion and five-time All-Star averaged career-lows of 11.7 points, 39.3% shooting, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 21.7 minutes. It is possible, however, that he could get more opportunities under May than he did under Jason Kidd, who coached Thompson for two seasons.

The Lakers’ interest

Thompson’s numbers shift when analyzing the games he played alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas. In the 21 NBA games he actually played alongside Doncic before the trade, Thompson averaged 14.9 points on 40.6 percent shooting from three—a sample size that has fueled belief the fit could still work in Los Angeles.

That could be one of the main reasons the Lakers remain so interested, as the franchise knows the space Doncic can create for an elite shooter like Thompson to capitalize on.

However, it is still unclear if Thompson, who has one year left on his deal with the Mavericks, is looking for a way out of Dallas, according to The Athletic’s Christian Clark. “At this point, it remains unclear if Klay Thompson, the Mavericks’ leading 3-point shooter in each of the past two seasons, will be back in Dallas for a third year,” Clark reported.

“The Mavericks have explored his trade market but have yet to find a deal, multiple sources with rival teams told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss any potential negotiations. Thompson is owed $17.5 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.”

Why Thompson favors Los Angeles

The report adds that a specific factor draws Thompson to Los Angeles: his past. He spent part of his childhood in the area and already owns a home there, which would make adapting to the city simple.

“My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer,” Clark concluded.

Thompson has $17.4 million left on the final year of his three-year deal with the Mavericks. His production has remained steady, with Thompson averaging 11.7 points on 39.3% shooting, including 38.3% from deep in the 2025-26 NBA season.

Mavericks in no rush for a buyout

The Mavericks are reportedly in no rush to part ways with veteran guard Klay Thompson. While the Heat has expressed interest in acquiring the five-time All-Star, the franchise would prefer making a trade rather than reaching a buyout agreement, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“Dallas has no reason to want to buy him out and would prefer to find a trade for him. Klay would need to give up significant money in a buyout,” Siegel wrote on X.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Thompson has emerged as the franchise’s top priority. “The Miami Heat’s number one priority right now is to acquire shooting. And they found their No. 1 target for that…Klay Thompson. The problem is Klay Thompson has one year left on his Mavs contract so they’re exploring whether they can trade for him, whether this could end up in a buyout, we’ll see over the next several weeks,” Charania reported.

Thompson is entering the final season of his three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks. While Miami would prefer to acquire Thompson following a potential buyout, interest from other championship contenders could force the Heat to pursue a trade if Dallas makes the veteran guard available.

Klay Thompson as a key piece

Miami’s interest extends well beyond Thompson’s general profile. The Heat is searching for perimeter shooting upgrades after missing out on signing LeBron James, and Thompson’s long-range capability directly aligns with that objective.

A four-time NBA champion, Thompson has established himself as one of the premier perimeter shooters in league history. He holds a career 40.9% mark from three-point territory while averaging 7.6 attempts per game. Last season with Dallas, he connected on 38.3% of his three-point attempts while maintaining that same high volume.

Thompson’s elite shooting would complement Antetokounmpo’s ability to collapse defenses in the paint alongside Bam Adebayo’s playmaking out of the frontcourt. Both stars regularly generate open perimeter opportunities—an area where Thompson has excelled throughout his career.

At this stage of his career, Thompson is no longer expected to carry the heavy load he managed during Golden State’s championship runs. Instead, Miami views him as a veteran floor-spacer capable of maximizing the open looks generated by Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Thompson has not approached the Mavericks to discuss a potential buyout as of yet. Dallas has no reason to want to buy him out and would prefer to find a trade for him, especially since Thompson would need to give up significant money in a buyout.

That is where the Heat enter the picture as candidates to land Thompson. According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, Miami “covets” Thompson, as it remains “questionable” whether the team would use money from its exception on players like DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal.

The Heat and their interest in Thompson

With Thompson being the “priority,” there is no telling what Dallas will do—whether it means buying out the $17.5 million he is owed in the final year of his contract or pursuing a trade, with the latter being the preferred option for the Mavericks.

“Miami’s continued interest in Thompson could be based on optimism that he will become available, but that’s unclear,” Jackson wrote. The Heat are looking to bring in key role players to complement and provide depth alongside Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, noting that Tyler Herro was part of that trade.

Last NBA season for Dallas, Thompson averaged 11.7 points on 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent shooting from three-point range, starting only eight games after 72 starts the year prior with the Mavericks. Siegel reported that the 36-year-old “has not approached” Dallas regarding a buyout.

The Heat’s interest in DeMar DeRozan

Barry Jackson reported that the Heat have spoken with DeMar DeRozan’s camp since LeBron James made his decision, but no agreement is in place, and it remains uncertain whether one will come together at all. The explanation is not a lack of interest in the six-time All-Star, whose game the organization genuinely likes.

Instead, at least one Heat official prefers to “wait out the market” before committing any of the team’s three open roster spots. The financial logic centers on exception money.

Any competitive offer to DeRozan would eat into the roughly $8 million Miami has remaining, and the front office appears reluctant to spend it while a bigger target stays on the board. There is also a mechanical wrinkle attached to that spending, as using the exception would require the Heat to open the season with 14 players in order to stay beneath its $209 million hard cap, with a 15th addition possible later in the year.

Dallas released its updated report ahead of the matchup at TD Garden, listing Klay Thompson as probable with a right adductor contusion. However, good news also arrived for the Mavericks, as Cooper Flagg did not appear on the injury report after recently returning from a left midfoot sprain that sidelined him for nearly a month.

Thompson also delivered a strong performance in Thursday’s narrow loss, leading the Mavericks with 24 points. The 36-year-old added four rebounds, one assist, and one steal while knocking down 7 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc in 26 minutes.

Now in his second season with the Mavericks, Thompson is averaging 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 55 games, including eight starts. The veteran guard is shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from three-point range while playing 22 minutes per game.

The presence of Cooper Flagg is key

Flagg also returned to the courts on Thursday after being absent with injury in the Mavericks 115 114 loss to the Orlando Magic. Cooper Flagg finished with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, four blocks and one steal while shooting 7 for 22 from the field and 1 for 4 from three-point range across 26 minutes.

Flagg has emerged as one of the Mavericks’ key contributors during his rookie campaign. Across 50 games this NBA season, the forward is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from three-point range in 33.9 minutes per game, pointing to be the rookie of the season competing against Kdnueppel.

The most anticipated return at TD Garden

Tatum, who was originally listed as questionable for Friday night’s game against the Mavericks, has officially been cleared and is available to play, the Celtics announced. One thing to watch is how much Tatum will actually play in his return, as he faces a strict minutes restriction.

Klay Thompson recently weighed in on one of basketball’s most debated topics: the greatest shooters in NBA history. Appearing on Almost Athletes with Dude Perfect, Thompson was asked to name his top five shooters of all time, and he notably left himself off the list.

“Obviously, you’ve got to say Steph. 4,200 makes at like a 42% clip is ridiculous, especially with all the volume,” Thompson said. “And then for me, Ray Allen, because he was the all-time leader for so long until Steph took over. Just Ray’s ability to shoot off the move with the ball in his hands, and that shot he had in the 2014 NBA Finals, that was one of the greatest shots in league history for me. He was a huge inspiration growing up.”

Thompson then turned his attention to another legendary marksman. Reggie Miller, in his view, was impossible to leave out of the conversation. Miller’s ability to weaponize the three-point line in an era that did not emphasize perimeter shooting left a lasting impression on Thompson.

“And then four, five, it gets so hard,” Thompson added. “It’s hard not to say Larry Bird, because although he didn’t shoot the volume of threes, he was so efficient. And Dirk, even his 2011 run, look at his shooting numbers. They’re insane. I’m going to go with those five.”

Logical selections from Klay Thompson

At the top of the list sits Stephen Curry, Thompson’s former Golden State Warriors teammate. Curry stands alone as the gold standard of shooting, owning the NBA record for made three-pointers with 4,233 while shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc. No player in league history has combined that level of efficiency with such volume and difficulty.

Ray Allen held the all-time three-point record for nearly a decade before Curry surpassed him. Allen finished his career with 2,973 made three-pointers on exactly 40.0% shooting, thriving both as a spot-up shooter and while flying off screens in high-pressure moments.

Reggie Miller retired as the greatest shooter of his generation. He knocked down 2,560 three-pointers at nearly 39.5% accuracy during a time when the three-pointer was far less emphasized, using constant movement and stamina to redefine perimeter scoring.

The final two, but no less important

Larry Bird did not rely on volume, but his efficiency and confidence were unmatched. Bird finished his career shooting 37.6% from three and famously won three consecutive Three-Point NBA Contests, often backing up his talk with historic performances.

Dirk Nowitzki changed how shooting big men were viewed across the league. He made 1,982 three-pointers while shooting roughly 38.0% from deep, with his 2011 playoff run standing out as one of the most efficient shooting stretches ever by a superstar forward.

Still, one absence stood out. Thompson himself owns 2,832 career three-pointers while shooting over 40.2% from beyond the arc and sits just behind Allen on the all-time list. Notably, Thompson had previously shared a similar list months earlier that included Kevin Durant and himself instead of Bird and Nowitzki, highlighting how even the game’s elite shooters remain humble when ranking greatness.

Flagg, who turned 19 on Sunday, has enjoyed an impressive start to his rookie campaign and has appeared in all but one game this season. He was added to the NBA injury report with a back contusion and is currently listed as questionable for Monday night’s road game against New Orleans.

There were no visible health concerns for Flagg on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he logged 24 points in 37 minutes. That performance suggests the contusion may not be serious enough to sideline him and could be related to the heavy workload he has carried in recent games.

On the other hand, according to NBA Underdog, Klay Thompson is upgraded to probable for Monday’s matchup due to knee soreness. If he can play, he is expected to take on a similar workload to the one he handled in the loss to the 76ers. Should Thompson be unavailable, Jaden Hardy could see additional minutes in the rotation.

The stars carrying the franchises

Dallas continues to rely heavily on Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 28 games this season. P.J. Washington contributes 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while Anthony Davis, who has appeared in only 13 contests, leads the team with 19.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per outing.

The Pelicans are led offensively by Trey Murphy III, who is averaging 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 27 games. Zion Williamson has played 13 games and is posting 21.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per appearance, while Jeremiah Fears adds 15.1 points and 3.1 assists in 29 games.

Both teams are coming off tight overtime wins, with Dallas defeating the Detroit Pistons 116–114 on Thursday and New Orleans edging the Houston Rockets 133–128 on the same night, underscoring how thin the margin has been for each side.

A season matching expectations for Flagg

Flagg is coming off one of the most productive rookie seasons ever for an 18-year-old. He finished behind only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in scoring among teenagers, became the youngest player to score 40 or more points in a game, and also the youngest to record double-digit assists. It has been an exceptional beginning to his NBA career, and his availability remains central to Dallas’ hopes moving forward.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks are preparing to explore an Anthony Davis trade once the star big man returns to full health. The intention is clear: Dallas want to build around Cooper Flagg, and Davis is becoming the asset they may need to cash in sooner rather than later. Rumors involving Klay Thompson have also been circulating for weeks.

It’s a complicated situation because Davis still isn’t playing. He has been out with a calf strain and has appeared in only five games all NBA season. Even before the injury, concerns were mounting. Dallas were reportedly dissatisfied with his conditioning, and MacMahon noted that Davis arrived at training camp roughly fifteen pounds heavier than last year.

Thompson finds himself in an uncertain position as well. He chose Dallas expecting a playoff push, but now he is watching the franchise shift toward a youth-driven rebuild. According to Dallas Hoops Journal, Thompson is already preparing for the possibility of being traded. His shooting profile, high basketball IQ, and postseason pedigree make him one of the most movable veteran pieces in the league.

Teams that could show interest

Despite the injury concerns and poor start, Davis’ talent remains undeniable, which is why the usual contenders are monitoring the situation. Miami have the contracts and playoff-ready pieces to construct a competitive package, though the question is whether it makes sense to move off a healthy and in-his-prime Bam Adebayo.

New York are lurking, as always, and the Knicks are never shy about a headline move. Chicago is a natural fit given Davis’ hometown roots, and the Bulls continue to flirt with a major roster overhaul.

Detroit also belongs in the conversation. The Pistons are suddenly rising behind Cade Cunningham and recently put together an impressive 11-game winning streak. If they decide it’s time to accelerate their growth, Davis is the type of high-risk, high-reward acquisition that can fast-track a rebuild.

The Warriors are the most complex team in the mix. They have shown interest, but to capture the Mavericks’ attention, Golden State may need to include both Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green. That kind of package would gut the core identity of their roster, even if it raises their ceiling in the short term. Considering Davis’ injury history and the Warriors’ already advanced age profile, the combination may ultimately be more problematic than promising.

According to the Dallas Hoops Journal, Thompson reportedly understands there is a significant chance he could be traded during the transfer window. His performance and approach to this season with the Mavericks might be the main factors fueling such speculation.

His attitude and on-court performances are key factors the fan base is considering regarding his potential movement at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, other developments within the Mavericks organization might also influence Thompson’s possible departure.

Ownership eyeing roster refresh

Though Thompson boasts considerable talent and the energy necessary to make significant contributions to the team, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont has announced intentions to make pivotal roster changes to construct a more competitive squad.

Given Thompson’s start to the regular season in a Mavericks uniform, he might be among the candidates to leave the team by the trade deadline, as Dumont and the front office assess which players to retain for future success.

Harrison’s exit and Doncic trade

It’s no secret that changes to a project promised by superiors after a contract is signed can lower a player’s commitment, potentially leading to demotivation. What transpired with Nico Harrison and Luka Doncic are factors Thompson might be contemplating, especially as he hoped to sustain the impact he had with the Golden State Warriors, only to find circumstances drastically altered.

These reasons and possibly others could be pivotal in Thompson’s decision-making, as he remains a player with ample potential in the NBA. Amidst his current struggles and the Mavericks’ evolving situation, he could find himself donning a different jersey before season’s end.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently made a controversial decision by moving Thompson to a bench role. Considering Thompson’s stature as a four-time NBA champion, the adjustment naturally drew attention. Still, the veteran guard has responded to the change with a surprisingly positive attitude.

Thompson has remained optimistic about embracing his new responsibilities. Speaking to the media after a 123-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns, he offered insight into how he has been adapting and what he hopes to accomplish individually this season. “I’m enjoying it. I get to see the game develop, so I can see where to pick my spots,” he said. “At the end of the day, I played 30 minutes in the NBA, year 15, just trying to be out there as much as I possibly can.”

He continued by reflecting on the privilege of remaining an active contributor at this stage of his career. “I’m not saying the end is near, but it’s such a privilege to be out there, no matter if it’s mid-November or early June. My goal this year is to be the most consistent presence in the lineup.”

The decline in Thompson’s production

Since leaving Golden State, Thompson hasn’t resembled the player he once was. Although he flashed moments of his former brilliance with Dallas last season, his level has dipped notably this year. Across 11 games this season, he is averaging 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, while shooting just 32.0% from the field and 28.9% from three.

When measured against his NBA career averages—19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game with shooting splits of 45.0% from the field and 41.0% from deep—it becomes clear that Thompson’s best years are behind him. At present, he simply isn’t impacting the Mavericks the way they need, even though he did finish as their leading scorer with 19 points in the loss to Phoenix.

Given his current form, a bench role may indeed be the right fit for him. However, with Dallas struggling to generate reliable perimeter production, the front office may also need to consider the possibility of moving Thompson in hopes of adding younger talent or more consistent outside shooting.