For years, it was assumed Klay Thompson would retire a lifelong Warrior, standing beside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But the NBA landscape changes fast. After a tough stretch of injuries and a shifting role in the offense, the four-time champion and the Golden State Warriors parted ways. Before the 2024-25 season, Thompson signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, just 24 hours after Dallas fired general manager Nico Harrison, stunning new details reveal what Thompson gave up to get there. This includes turning down an $80 million offer from a storied rival, only to see his plans completely upended.
Why Did Klay Thompson Turn Down the Lakers?
According to The Athletic, Thompson’s camp was in communication with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2023 free agency period. The two sides discussed a four-year, $80 million contract, which would have required the Warriors’ cooperation in a sign-and-trade. On paper, the move made a ton of sense. Thompson could have stayed in California, played for the legendary purple and gold his father once wore, and given LeBron James and Anthony Davis a true floor-spacing wing.
However, it’s now been revealed that Thompson declined the opportunity. He instead took a significant pay cut to join the Mavericks for one primary reason: to play alongside generational creator Luka Dončić. The logic behind Thompson’s choice was purely about basketball. The Thompson-to-Dallas move seemed like a match made in heaven, as he has always been a player who thrives in an off-ball role where he can curl off screens and knock down catch-and-shoot threes. Who better to create those opportunities than Dončić?
How Did a Blockbuster Trade Spoil Thompson’s Plans?
Unfortunately for Thompson, the partnership was short-lived. Due to a variety of injuries and one of the craziest trades in sports history, he only played in 21 games alongside Dončić during his first year in Dallas. Those 21 games went well, as the Mavericks had a 10.1 net rating with both players on the floor together. This was a pairing that should have only gotten better as their chemistry developed, but Harrison clearly had other plans for the franchise.
In a deeply ironic twist, Dončić ended up in Los Angeles. With that move, Thompson’s main reason for choosing Dallas over the Lakers had vanished.
This situation leaves Thompson and the Mavericks at a crossroads as the 2025-26 NBA season continues. Does this mean he could be on the trade block? Will the Lakers look to add the veteran sharpshooter after all? All options remain on the table as the madness unfolds.
