Did Klay Thompson Shade Mavs Over Luka Doncic Trade While Addressing Future in Trending Video?

Dallas Mavericks veteran guard Klay Thompson has been in the NBA long enough to know that nothing is guaranteed.

So when he was asked if he anticipates being in Dallas next year, Thompson gave an honest answer that appeared to reference last year's shocking trade that sent star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"That's a hard hitter. I'm not sure. I'm under contract, so I do, but I've definitely learned in my time in Dallas that things can change on a dime," Thompson told reporters after the Mavs' 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls in their regular-season finale on Sunday. "So I'm just here to have a great time and put my best foot forward. That's all you can do."

When Thompson joined the Mavs after spending his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, he was viewed as a missing piece for a team coming off a run to the NBA Finals. His shooting, spacing and veteran presence were all meant to benefit Doncic, but they hardly got a chance to play together before Doncic was shipped to the Lakers.

Dallas ended this season with a 26-56 record to miss the playoffs for the second straight year. Thompson is set to count for a $17.5 million cap hit next season, so it remains to be seen if the Mavs want to keep him around.

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Thompson acknowledged that the uncertainty over his future is not uncommon across the league, and he's ready for whatever comes.

"That's the hardest part about being an NBA player," he said. "They think they pay you for the records broken or the rings won, but it's really that they pay you for being able to be traded, being on the road away from your family on a consistent basis, going through injuries and all this stuff that the common fan doesn't see that really makes it difficult."