With the Dallas Mavericks’ season deteriorating with each passing loss, many prominent members of the basketball community believe it is only a matter of time before the organization makes some drastic changes to its roster.
Ever since trading away Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavericks appear to have killed their own chances at contending for an NBA championship. With the team trailing the other top-tier rosters in the Western Conference at 5-14, the Mavericks appear directionless, leaving us to speculate about the moves the team could make.
Trading Away Klay Thompson Is a Top Priority for the Dallas Mavericks
One can only imagine how veteran stars like Klay Thompson felt about the team’s recent decisions. After all, he joined the Mavericks under the assumption that he would be playing alongside Dončić, only to realize that the team traded away their franchise cornerstone on a risky gamble.
Given that the same gamble has not paid off, it would be in the best interest of the Mavericks to blow up their current roster and construct a young core around Cooper Flagg. Although that would kill their immediate title aspirations, it gives the team a chance to contend for a championship in the distant future.
According to a report from Bleacher Report, trading away Thompson would require a three-team deal, potentially involving the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.
Mavericks get:
Anfernee Simons (from Celtics)
Haywood Highsmith (from Nets)
Celtics get:
Daniel Gafford (from Mavericks)
$27.7 million trade exception (Anfernee Simons)
Nets get:
Klay Thompson (from Mavericks)
Dwight Powell (from Mavericks)
Rights to Yam Madar (No. 47 in 2020, from Celtics)
2026 second-rounder (via Celtics)
2030 Philadelphia 76ers second-rounder (via Mavericks)
2031 protected Houston Rockets second-rounder (via Celtics)
$3.98 million (from Mavericks)
$3.98 million (from Celtics)
Upon taking a closer look at this trade scenario, Mavericks fans should wonder if giving up Thompson, as well as Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell, would justify bringing over Anfernee Simons from the Celtics.
In Thompson’s case, the four-time NBA champion signed a three-year contract for $50 million with the Mavericks when he first joined the team. He still has a year remaining on his deal after this ongoing 2025-2026 season, making him an asset that the Mavericks will want maximum value for if they trade him away.
Although the combination of Cooper Flagg and Simons may transform the Mavericks down the line, it may be in the Mavericks’ best interest to decide which of their experienced veterans they will be trading away before making their next big move.
After all, packaging Thompson and Davis in a trade could give the Mavericks access to almost any young star across the league.