Dallas' Plan for Klay Thompson: A Trade

Speculation surrounding Klay Thompson's future with the Dallas Mavericks has been clarified. According to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, the Mavericks are not considering releasing the player through a buyout. Siegel wrote: "As reported yesterday on ClutchPoints, Klay Thompson has not approached the Mavs to discuss a potential buyout as of yet. Dallas has no reason to want to buy him out and would prefer to find a trade for him. Klay would need to give up significant money in a buyout."

According to the report, the Mavericks' management views the 36-year-old Thompson, who is entering the final year of his contract worth roughly $17.5 million, as an easier trade chip rather than a long-term salary burden. The Miami Heat are said to be interested in the player, though names such as Nikola Jovic would reportedly need to be included for a trade to materialise. The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are also said to be among the clubs monitoring Thompson's situation.

Thompson, who posted a career-low average of 11.7 points in 21.7 minutes last season while still shooting 38.3% from three, is said to remain capable of adding shooting value to teams as a four-time champion with extensive experience. The Mavericks' approach is described as part of a strategy to recoup at least some value from the player's contract.

Source: Brett Siegel
Image: Yardbarker