A new rumor just opened the door to something Golden State Warriors fans never expected. A potential reunion this season with team legend Klay Thompson.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Warriors seemed like a potential sleeper in a deep Western Conference. After the trade for Jimmy Butler after the deadline, Golden State evolved into a serious title contender until an injury to Stephen Curry derailed everything. Now, with a full training camp with Butler, they were primed to be a problem this season.
However, after winning four of their first five, the Warriors have been a middle-of-the-road team. Heading into their game on Friday night, they own a disappointing 13-12 record, and there have been public statements of frustration by both Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. They have suggested that defense and a lack of guts have been behind their struggles this season.
Yet, their offense seems like a bigger issue. In the era of Curry and head coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors have always been an elite scoring team. However, their 113.5 points per game and 112.7 offensive rating are bottom 10 in the NBA.
That is why it’s no surprise that they have been linked to recent trade rumors. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the team has every intention of trading Jonathan Kuminga once he is eligible after Jan. 15. However, another intriguing rumor in his report might interest the Warriors.
Should Golden State Warriors consider Klay Thompson trade?
According to the NBA insider, “The Dallas Mavericks are open to exploring the trade market” for Klay Thompson and several other players on their roster. Including Anthony Davis, a player also linked to the Warriors in trade rumors.
Thompson is, obviously, nowhere near his prime. It is why Golden State let him take his talents to Dallas before last season. However, if they are looking for more offense, Thompson would be a far better fit in Kerr’s system than Kuminga. If they need some grit and heart, the five-time All-Star would make more sense as well. Furthermore, after two years in a messy Mavericks organization, Thompson would be energized by a return to his former team.
- Klay Thompson stats: 11.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 35% 3PT
Like Curry and Green, Thompson is only signed for one more season. Bringing him back could allow them to potentially have one final season send-off for two of their big three next year. The Warriors prefer to move Kuminga in a bigger deal for an All-Star player. However, if the pursuit fails, the team great could be an interesting fallback option.
