NBA Rumors on Potential Klay Thompson Trade, Updated Landing Spots for Mavs Star

Dallas Mavericks veteran wing Klay Thompson reportedly could be available for trade in the near future.

According to ESPN's Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon, Mavericks co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are expected to "explore" Thompson's trade market as the Feb. 5 trade deadline draws closer.

Slater and MacMahon added that while Thompson wants to play for a contender, it could be difficult to move him since he is owed over $17 million next season.

The 35-year-old Thompson is a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection and four-time NBA champion best known for his time with the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2024.

Thompson and Stephen Curry formed a tandem known as the "Splash Brothers" due to their three-point shooting excellence.

Curry is first in NBA history in three-point field goals made, while Thompson is fifth on the all-time list with 2,767. Thompson also ranks 24th in career three-point shooting percentage at 41.0 percent.

During his time with Golden State, Thompson averaged 19.6 points per game while shooting 45.3. percent from the field and 41.3 percent from beyond the arc, but he has declined in those areas over parts of two seasons in Dallas.

Over his 97 games as a member of the Mavs, Thompson is averaging 13.2 points per game, and shooting 40.2 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from deep.

In 25 games this season, only eight of which have been starts, Thompson is averaging 11.1 points per contest, which would be a career low. He is also shooting a career-worst 37.0 percent from the field, although his 36.1 percent success rate from three-point range is more serviceable.

Thompson has played better of late since getting off to a slow start, as he is shooting 40.7 percent from downtown over the past month, per Slater and MacMahon.

At 10-17, the Mavericks have struggled mightily this season, although they are still in the playoff race, as they trail the 10th-seeded Utah Jazz by only one game for the final spot in the postseason play-in tournament.

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That is despite the fact that Anthony Davis has missed significant time due to injury, and Kyrie Irving has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL last season.

There is hope for a bounce back if Davis stays healthy and Irving returns, but that may not stop the Mavs from moving Thompson if they can find a taker.

The Los Angeles Lakers pursued Thompson until he decided to sign with the Mavericks, and if they can make the salaries work, they are perhaps the most logical landing spot for him.

L.A. is third in the Western Conference with an 18-7 record, and a true championship contender thanks to the trio of Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers are only 23rd in three-point field goals made per game, however, and Thompson could provide a boost in that area.

Other contending teams ranked in the bottom half of the league in three-point shooting who would potentially benefit from acquiring Thompson include the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.