Klay Thompson Chose the Wrong Team — and the Lakers Are Proving It

When Klay Thompson faced his career-defining decision last summer — Lakers or Mavericks — he chose Texas. Tempted by the idea of teaming up with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving on what looked like a quicker path to another ring, Klay signed a three-year, $50 million deal via sign-and-trade with Dallas.

Fast forward to November, and that decision now looks like a mistake.

Midseason, the Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading Dončić to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis. Since then, Dallas has spiraled, sitting at 3–8 and 14th in the West. Kyrie Irving remains sidelined with a knee injury, and Davis’ minutes have been limited.

Meanwhile, Thompson is having the worst statistical start of his career — averaging 7.4 points, shooting 31.4% from the field and 26.7% from deep. Within two weeks, Jason Kidd moved him to the bench in favor of D’Angelo Russell. For a veteran looking for stability and a defined role, it’s the opposite of what he expected.

No one could’ve predicted Dončić’s move to Los Angeles, but if Klay had signed with the Lakers, he’d be thriving alongside an MVP-caliber playmaker. Reports at the time suggested the Lakers offered a four-year, $80 million deal. In LA, Klay’s role would’ve been tailor-made — spacing the floor, punishing defenses off the catch, and guarding elite wings within a structured system under JJ Redick.

Instead, in Dallas, he’s been part of an offense lacking rhythm, cohesion, and half-court creation. With rookie Cooper Flagg still finding his footing, Thompson’s skill set — dependent on movement, flow, and timely passing — has been largely wasted.

The Dallas Domino Effect

The firing of GM Nico Harrison is the clearest sign of a franchise adrift. The Mavericks now face tough questions about Anthony Davis’ future and whether to rebuild around Flagg. None of that helps Klay in the short term.

At 35, Thompson needs structure — not transition. He thrives when surrounded by creators who command defensive attention, not when forced to self-create in broken sets.

Lessons for Veterans Chasing a Fifth Ring

For stars like Klay, the question isn’t “who has two superstars?” — it’s “which system maximizes my game today?”

The current Lakers, led by Dončić, Reaves, and Redick’s system, check all those boxes:

• High-value shot opportunities through ball movement.
• A defense that hides aging legs without sacrificing intensity.
• A clear rotation role for proven shooters.
• 
  

Klay went for what looked like the shortcut to contention — but the shortcut collapsed.

In Los Angeles, he could’ve had a longer deal, a defined role, and a real shot at his fifth ring. The window isn’t closed yet — it’s just not in Dallas.