Warriors writer floats idea of reunion with declining four-time NBA champion Mavericks guard

Some players aren’t as productive during the latter stages of their respective careers.

That seems to be the case for a 35-year-old four-time NBA champion Dallas Mavericks guard, as he’s currently moving in the wrong direction with the Luka Doncic-led Western Conference organization.

As a result, Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe floated the idea of the future Hall of Famer reuniting with the franchise that drafted him, the Golden State Warriors, in an attempt to change the narrative surrounding his NBA status. 

“There's no doubt that another team could certainly utilize (Klay) Thompson far more productively than what the Mavericks currently are,” O’Keefe wrote last Monday. 

“It just remains to be seen whether Dallas believes things will be different once Irving eventually returns from injury, or whether they're actually willing to consider trading the veteran sharpshooter in the meantime.”

“Perhaps a reunion between Thompson and the Warriors could be on the cards at some stage, but on his current deal, it seems unlikely that the franchise would trade for one of their greatest ever players.”

Thompson will always be a Warriors legend, no matter how the remainder of his career pans out. 

Thompson, along with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, helped the Dubs not only prove that they could compete in the vaunted Western Conference but also get over the hump following an early playoff exit in 2014 (they went on to win four titles). 

After the 2023-24 campaign, though, it was clear the Warriors needed to move on from the gifted long-range shooter, as he was no longer the same player who helped the organization build a dynamic dynasty in the 2010s. 

Thompson is currently on pace to endure the worst statistical season of his remarkable career, as he’s averaging 8.7 points per game on 33.3% field goal shooting and 29.4% three-point shooting. 

Would the Washington product’s productivity improve with a return to his first NBA home? There’s no reason to rule out the possibility.

However, it may be time to accept the fact that Thompson is years removed from his prime and can’t be depended upon the same way he used to.

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