After an underwhelming first season away from the Bay Area, Dallas Mavericks veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson’s future as a high-impact starter is in question. However, Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea believes a Golden State Warriors homecoming could be on the horizon as the Stephen Curry-led franchise seeks to extend its championship window.
Thompson and Curry famously won four titles together from 2015 to 2022, becoming widely regarded as the greatest shooting backcourt of all time. Even so, after failing to settle on a contract extension with Golden State and experiencing a fluctuating role, Thompson joined Dallas on a three-year, $50 million contract last offseason.
While the five-time All-Star started in all 72 of his appearances with the Mavericks, his production took a hit. Thompson posted his lowest scoring average (14.0 points per game) since his rookie campaign (2011-12) as Dallas stumbled to an injury-riddled 39-win finish. That said, a return to the Warriors, who are fresh off a 48-win season and a second-round playoff appearance, could reignite his career.
NBA Analyst Proposes Mock Trade Reuniting Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry on Warriors
On Thursday, Shea mapped out a trade that could reunite the “Splash Brothers” without compromising Golden State’s future.
Proposed Deal
Warriors Receive: Klay Thompson
Mavericks Receive: Buddy Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis
The deal would effectively replace Hield with Thompson as the Warriors’ primary outside shooting threat on the wing. Meanwhile, they would part with reserve big man Jackson-Davis, whose playing time waned in his sophomore season.
Shea dubbed Thompson the “biggest beneficiary of this trade,” citing his familiarity with Curry and Golden State veteran star forward Draymond Green. The analyst added that despite his statistical drop-off, Thompson remains a high-level knockdown shooter.
“Although Klay isn’t the player he once was, now entering his age-35 season, he still has plenty left in the tank,” Shea wrote. “His 39.1% 3-point percentage remains above the league average. Combine that with the chemistry he already has with Steph and Dray, and he should see a boost in numbers across the board.”
Conversely, Shea anticipated Hield sustaining a “slight dip in his stats” if the “Mavericks’ new core of Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis are all able to stay healthy.” Still, he views adding Hield and Jackson-Davis as a move that could help Dallas “balance being competitive while also building towards the future.”
Warriors Could Recapture Playoff Magic With Thompson
Reacquiring Thompson would further age Golden State’s seasoned roster, potentially heightening its injury risk. Curry (37), Green (35), and the organization’s top February trade deadline acquisition, Jimmy Butler (35), are all 35-plus. The same goes for the Warriors’ highest-profile expected free agent signing, Al Horford (39).
Nevertheless, Shea believes if Curry and Co. can stay healthy come playoff time, they may be able to “unlock their championship magic just one more time.” Given the relatively low cost of a prospective Thompson deal, Golden State may deem that worth a gamble amid its relatively quiet offseason.