Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors 'No Progress' on Contract Extension; Could Dallas Mavs Trade?
One week from today, the Dallas Mavericks will begin their quest for redemption, as they'll open the 2023-24 season at Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs. Dallas has made several significant roster changes since last season's playoff-less disaster, but there's always room to do more if the right opportunity presents itself.
If the Mavs are hoping to add a third star alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at some point, Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson could be a name to keep an eye on as this season progresses. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Thompson and the Warriors have "no progress" on a potential contract extension.
"I'm told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State," Wojnarowski said. "They are both still apart on years and money, and there's a very real possibility that Klay Thompson goes into free agency next summer without a deal."
Yes, Thompson very well could be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but if the Warriors, after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract so far, feel as if they might lose him for nothing, perhaps they survey the trade market to see what's available.
We believe most of the Mavs' starting five is set for opening night, with Doncic and Irving manning the backcourt, Grant Williams playing at the four, and 19-year-old rookie Dereck Lively II having the upper hand on being the starting center. However, when it comes to the small forward position, there are still a lot of questions.
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic boxes out Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Green, who, like Thompson, is also contract extension eligible, was seen as a lock to be a Mavs starter at one point during the summer. However, despite his improvements, he has yet to secure that spot in the eyes of head coach Jason Kidd. Recent veteran's minimum signee Derrick Jones Jr. is "in contention" for that final starting position, along with Green.
Thompson is 33 years old and has had some significant injuries that caused him to miss the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons entirely, as well as 50 games in the 2021-22 season. He bounced back well last season, though, playing in 69 games for the Warriors while averaging 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from deep and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Age and injury history aside, Thompson would fit well into a Mavs' starting five featuring Doncic, Irving, Williams and Lively. The four-time champion is a very capable defender, and his ability to produce at a star level while mostly being a catch-and-shoot player on offense is something that would seem to work great on paper with Doncic and Irving.
Since Thompson is on an expiring $43.2 million contract, trading for him would be tricky. The Mavs would likely have to package Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and Richaun Holmes together to make things work from a salary-matching perspective, which surely wouldn't be a problem on their end. But it's likely that the Warriors would also want one of Dallas' younger pieces like Green or Jaden Hardy. At that point, the Mavs would be giving up four players for one, so depth might become a concern.
Regardless, the Mavs should monitor Thompson's situation, and if a trade isn't a realistic route to get him on the roster, perhaps something can be done in free agency next summer when/if that time comes. After all, Irving has already been looking ahead to these next few free-agency pools.
“[The Mavs’ front office] asked me what I thought throughout the summertime,” Irving said. “Even in our closing meetings, they just asked me questions, trying to gauge who I wanted to play with and who I saw in the market and who in these next couple of free agency classes will be available. That’s pretty interesting.”
