It's time for Mavericks to have an uncomfortable Klay Thompson discussion

It's Time for Mavericks to Have an Uncomfortable Klay Thompson Discussion

The Dallas Mavericks are getting little benefit from Klay Thompson this season, forcing the team to consider possible replacements sooner rather than later. While Dallas still wants to use Thompson to make their large, spacing-limited lineups functional, the urgency to bench him might now outweigh the need to play him.

The 2025 Mavericks appear built without much regard for playmaking, shot creation, or floor spacing—key ingredients in modern basketball. Their roster is filled with talented players, yet many of them occupy the same positions as power forwards and centers, making balance a major challenge.

The Lineup Dilemma

The team’s most naturally gifted lineup likely includes Flagg running point guard, Anthony Davis at power forward, and both P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II on the floor. Despite their defensive strength and dominance in the paint, these lineups suffer from a major lack of shooting.

Klay Thompson’s Expected Role

The plan was that Klay Thompson—long praised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history—would provide the spacing Dallas desperately needed. His perimeter shooting was supposed to stretch defenses and open lanes for Davis, Flagg, and Washington to operate inside.

“The theory would perhaps make more sense if Thompson was playing up to that level, but he is no longer the same player that he was playing alongside Stephen Curry for all of those years.”

Summary

Mavericks’ roster construction leaves them short on shooting, and Klay Thompson’s decline has made their once-promising lineup increasingly difficult to justify playing.

Author's summary: Dallas faces a hard truth—Klay Thompson’s fading shot no longer aligns with the team’s structure or needs on the modern NBA court.

Hoops Habit — 2025-11-04