’Keep an Eye on It’ — Insider Doesn’t Rule Out Buyout for 4-Time NBA Champion

The NBA offseason can turn unforeseen scenarios into realistic possibilities, particularly after a frenzied start to free agency.

At this point, one four-time NBA champion’s future remains unsettled, prompting a league insider to advise teams to keep a close eye on the situation.

Klay Thompson Emerges as Potential Buyout Candidate

Klay Thompson’s future with the Dallas Mavericks appears uncertain as he tries to compete for his fifth title. As the Mavericks continue their rebuild around Cooper Flagg, the 36-year-old sharpshooter could eye a better win-now destination.

Speaking at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, insider Marc Stein shared intel on what the future could hold for Thompson.

”I’ve also fielded questions, ‘Is Klay a buyout candidate?’ To this point, as much has been relayed to me is that I think the Mavs’ preference would be a trade. It’s still early enough in the summer that I think if you’re the Mavs, you would exhaust those options first, but we’ve gotta keep an eye on it,” Stein said.

When the Mavericks landed Thompson in 2024, the former Golden State Warriors star was brought in to help Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving win a championship.

That goal was torpedoed in February 2025 when Dallas shipped Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package centered around Anthony Davis. A month after the controversial trade, Irving tore his left ACL, leaving Thompson in a tough spot.

To make matters worse, the Mavericks conceded they had made a mistake in trading Dončić and decided to reset. They sent Davis to the Washington Wizards this past season to embrace a full rebuild around Flagg, their 19-year-old franchise cornerstone.

Thompson is on an expiring $17.5 million contract, making him a natural trade candidate. However, teams may not be lining up to acquire an aging veteran who struggled badly in the 2025-26 campaign.

He averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, all career-lows. Thompson’s 39.3% field-goal percentage and 38.3% mark from 3-point range were also the worst shooting figures of his career.

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Thompson’s struggles became obvious as the season wore on, forcing then-Mavericks coach Jason Kidd to bench him. The five-time All-Star started in just eight of the 69 games he appeared in.

The ideal situation for Dallas is to trade Thompson, but if no team shows interest, a buyout is the cleanest exit route for both parties.