Klay Thompson entered the recent Fanatics Fest with a year left on his contract and a simple wish: “Shoot, I don’t know... it’d be nice to end it in Golden State,” he told reporters on Sunday. The candid remark underscored a lingering desire to finish his career where he captured three championships.
That same day, an NBA executive told Heavy’s Sean Deveney there would be “some momentum” if the Warriors rolled out the red carpet for their former splash brother. He noted the club’s injury list , including setbacks to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody , and the fact that Stephen Curry is “another year older,” suggesting the franchise could benefit from a familiar, high-percentage shooter.
Thompson closed the 2025-26 season shooting 38.3 % from three-point range, marking his 15th consecutive season above the league average of roughly 35-36 %. While his overall numbers have slipped from his peak, the three-point mark still places him among the league’s most reliable spot-up shooters. When he’s on the floor, his off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot ability naturally stretch defenses, creating space for Curry and the emerging guards.
From a schematic standpoint, Thompson’s skill set dovetails with Golden State’s motion offense. The team has been searching for a secondary scorer who can thrive without the ball, especially as Curry ages and defensive rotations thin. Adding Thompson would restore a proven two-guard tandem that can stretch the floor, helping the Warriors maintain their pick-and-roll rhythm while compensating for the loss of interior scoring caused by injuries to key front-court players.
The Dallas Mavericks have identified Thompson as a prime trade or buyout candidate, meaning any reunion would likely require a buyout or a low-cost trade that respects the Warriors’ cap constraints. While the exact terms remain unsettled, the window for a move narrows as the free-agency moratorium approaches, putting pressure on Golden State to act before the July deadline.
If the Warriors succeed in bringing Thompson back, the sight of him pulling up from beyond the arc alongside Curry would reinforce the franchise’s identity built on elite shooting. A reunion could provide the missing piece needed to push the club back into contention for a late-career championship, or at the very least, signal that the organization remains committed to competing without a full rebuild.
