After landing the No. 1 pick and selecting Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks entered the 2025-26 season with high hopes. But after Nico Harrison’s firing and a 9-16 start, Dallas could be open for business.
Klay Thompson is averaging 11.0 points and 2.7 3-pointers in 21.8 minutes per game this season. The four-time NBA champion is 35 years old and past his prime, but he could be a valuable piece for a playoff-contending team. With the Mavericks potentially considering trade options, here are four teams that could be interested in acquiring Thompson.
1) Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were a surprise team last season, but they have turned things up another notch so far in 2025. J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad owns the best record in the Eastern Conference at 19-5 and appears to be a legit threat in a conference that’s wide open this season.
The Pistons have veterans like Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris, but Thompson’s championship experience could be invaluable to this rising team. Detroit doesn’t shoot many threes, but adding a career 41% 3-point shooter could help space the floor and complement the inside-out duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
After missing his first one from the corner, Klay Thompson rips off 16 consecutive triples going around the horn at Tuesday’s practice. pic.twitter.com/wXd9AR9mgQ
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) December 9, 2025
Though Thompson is past his prime, the Pistons may need to trade young talent to get him. Ron Holland II, Jaden Ivey, and Marcus Sasser could be potential assets.
2) Los Angeles Lakers
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a class of their own, but the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be entrenched in the Western Conference’s second tier. A healthy trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves should have at least a puncher’s chance against most teams.
Thompson is now 35 years old. This would be the perfect opportunity for the Los Angeles native to go home and contend for his fifth NBA championship on the same team his father, Mychal Thompson, played for.
The Lakers are a middle-of-the-pack 3-point shooting team, according to Basketball Reference. The Mavericks’ sharpshooter gives them another offensive weapon for defenses to worry about. Although a step slower, Thompson’s defensive instincts help address an area where Los Angeles often struggles.
Realistically, a deal built around Dalton Knecht, who has untapped upside, could entice a Dallas squad heading toward a rebuild.
3) Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic were an elite defensive team last season, but struggled mightily on offense. They are much more efficient this year, and they have better spacing thanks to the Desmond Bane trade in the offseason. However, Orlando has been knocking on the door and is ready to get over the hump.
Despite Bane’s arrival, the Magic still rank in the bottom 10 in 3-point shooting. Adding a perimeter threat like Thompson can only boost that profile. Orlando features a promising 1-2 punch of young stars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Thompson would bring more spacing while not detracting from the team’s defensive prowess.
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In a perfect world, the Magic should want to keep their core together, which also includes Jalen Suggs, as well as Wendell Carter Jr. A young player like Anthony Black is a two-way player who could return value for Dallas in a deal.
4) Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets’ acquisition of 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant in the offseason signaled the franchise’s desire to go all-in in its pursuit of a championship. And so far, so good, as the Rockets are a top-four team in the Western Conference. They rank among the top five in both offensive and defensive ratings.
Though Houston isn’t desperate for Thompson, his addition would provide a significant boost to the team’s championship aspirations. Thompson’s proven scoring and floor-spacing abilities would directly address Houston’s offensive needs and improve their overall depth, representing an upgrade over Josh Okogie.
Reed Sheppard’s Year 2 progress is promising, which has made the Rockets hesitant to move him. However, packaging salary matches and valuable future draft picks could offer a compelling trade package for the Mavericks and further strengthen Houston’s bid for a title.
