Mavericks Are Really Regretting Klay Thompson: The Decline in Playing Time, Is This the Biggest Mistake of the Season?

The 2024–25 NBA season has been filled with unexpected storylines, but one of the most controversial narratives centers around the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to acquire Klay Thompson. Once hailed as a championship-caliber move that would give Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving another sharpshooting partner, the addition of the former Warriors star has quickly turned sour. As the season has progressed, Klay’s playing time has steadily declined, his performance has become inconsistent, and the Mavericks are now facing tough questions about the future of their roster.

Was signing Klay Thompson a major misstep by the Mavericks’ front office? Is this one of the biggest mistakes of the season? Let’s take a deep dive into the data, the fallout, and the potential long-term implications of this troubled partnership.

The Klay Thompson acquisition: What the Mavericks were hoping for

When the Mavericks signed Klay Thompson during the offseason, many analysts saw it as a high-reward gamble. After spending his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, winning four championships and earning a reputation as one of the best two-way players in the game, Thompson became a free agent amid a wave of uncertainty. Injuries had significantly impacted his mobility and shooting consistency, but Dallas was willing to bet on his championship pedigree.

The idea was simple: pair Thompson with Luka Dončić, one of the best playmakers in the league, and stretch the floor with a veteran who could drain threes and play perimeter defense. On paper, it was a no-brainer. Thompson’s experience and leadership could complement the youthful energy of the Mavericks, helping push them into deeper playoff contention.

Klay Thompson’s decline in playing time

Fast-forward to midseason, and the reality looks very different. Klay Thompson’s role has been significantly reduced, with his minutes per game dropping from the high twenties at the beginning of the season to just around 18 minutes recently. The coaching staff, led by Jason Kidd, has quietly shuffled the rotation, giving more minutes to younger, more explosive players who fit better into the team’s high-tempo offense.

Klay Thompson’s reduced minutes are not just a coaching decision—they reflect deeper issues with his performance. His three-point shooting percentage has fallen to just under 34%, a sharp decline from his career average of 41.3%. He’s also struggled defensively, often being targeted by faster guards and wings who exploit his diminished lateral quickness. Once known for his elite perimeter defense, Thompson now finds himself exposed in critical moments.

Fans and analysts alike are starting to question why Thompson was given a multi-year deal reportedly worth over $20 million annually. For a team trying to build a championship core around Luka and Kyrie, that’s a lot of cap space tied up in a player who is no longer producing at an All-Star level.

Dallas Mavericks’ mistake of the season

In hindsight, the Mavericks’ decision to invest heavily in Thompson may go down as one of the biggest mistakes of the NBA season. While injuries are certainly a factor in Thompson’s decline, his trajectory has been apparent since his return in 2022 from two devastating injuries: an ACL tear followed by an Achilles rupture. Those are two of the most difficult injuries for any athlete to come back from, and at age 34, Klay’s body simply isn’t responding like it used to.

Dallas miscalculated in several areas:

• They overestimated his ability to return to form.

• They underestimated how much the game has evolved since Thompson’s peak years.

• And most importantly, they failed to consider the opportunity cost—what else could they have done with that cap space?

While other teams found value in younger, faster, and more versatile wings during the offseason, the Mavericks were banking on nostalgia and name recognition.

Locker room tension and chemistry concerns

Beyond the statistics, there are subtle signs that Thompson’s presence may be affecting team chemistry. Sources close to the team have hinted at growing frustration within the locker room. Younger players, particularly defensive-minded wings like Josh Green and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, have had their minutes cut early in the season to accommodate Thompson. Now that Thompson is being benched more often, some of that tension has eased, but the damage to trust may already be done.

Kyrie Irving has reportedly been supportive of Klay behind closed doors, but even that relationship hasn’t translated into on-court chemistry. The trio of Dončić, Irving, and Thompson has one of the worst net ratings of any three-man lineup on the Mavericks’ roster, primarily due to poor defensive rotations and inefficient scoring stretches.

Klay Thompson’s future with the Mavericks

At this point, it’s fair to ask what comes next for Klay Thompson. His contract includes a player option, and given his diminished value, it’s likely he will opt in for another year unless the Mavericks find a way to trade or buy him out. However, moving that kind of contract will be difficult unless Dallas includes draft capital or takes on another unwanted deal.

Klay Thompson’s future in Dallas appears uncertain at best. Jason Kidd has tried to protect him in interviews, praising his leadership and experience, but there’s a noticeable shift in how the Mavericks are using him. From a starter and key veteran presence, Thompson has quietly become a role player whose best contributions now come in short, controlled bursts—usually when the team is either far ahead or trying to rest their main stars.

Fans who were once thrilled by the nostalgia of seeing Klay in a new uniform are now calling for younger players to take the reins. On forums and social media, the sentiment is clear: the Mavericks need to build for the future, not live in the past.

Lessons learned: A cautionary tale in free agency

The Klay Thompson saga offers a cautionary tale for NBA teams chasing big names. Nostalgia can be powerful, but it rarely wins games in a league that prioritizes athleticism, versatility, and adaptability. Dallas made the mistake of thinking Klay could be the final puzzle piece, but instead, he’s become a symbol of what happens when emotion overtakes analytics.

This situation also highlights the importance of fit. While Thompson’s skill set once aligned perfectly with a dynasty like the Warriors, the Mavericks run a completely different system. They’re built around Luka’s ball dominance and Kyrie’s creative freedom, which doesn’t leave much room for an aging shooting guard who needs set plays and rhythm to thrive.

Had Thompson signed with a team like the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat—organizations known for slow, half-court styles—he may have found more success. But in Dallas, the pace and demands are simply too high for him to keep up consistently.

Conclusion: Mavericks must act fast to avoid further fallout

The Mavericks are still in the playoff hunt and have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but the decision to sign Klay Thompson is beginning to look like a significant misstep. Klay Thompson’s decline in Dallas not only affects their rotation and salary cap but also sends a confusing message about the direction of the franchise.

Are the Mavericks focused on short-term nostalgia or long-term growth? Can they correct the mistake by the trade deadline, or will they double down and hope for a late-season resurgence?

Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the clock is ticking, and the Mavericks must act quickly to realign their roster before the postseason window starts to close.