The Dallas Mavericks have some cap space to play with after trading away three-point specialist Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Quentin Grimes.
Dallas will likely use that space to offer their own free agent, Derrick Jones Jr., the full $12.9 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception, whom general manager Nico Harrison described as the team's 1A and 1B priorities this offseason.
But there could be another option behind door No. 2...
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Friday that Dallas is "intent on exploring" the possibility of signing Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson with their new available cap space.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the Dallas Mavericks, with some newfound financial flexibility after securing the Tim Hardaway Jr.-to-Detroit trade that I wrote about Tuesday, are another team intent on exploring the feasibility of signing Thompson once he makes it to free agency,” Stein wrote in his latest substack.
Thompson's market is unclear but Dallas will have some steep competition for the 34-year-old's services should he ultimately decide to walk away from the Warriors this offseason. Per The Athletic's Sam Smick and Anthony Slater, the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets are also interested in signing Thompson this offseason. And multiple reports have connected Thompson to the Orlando Magic for quite some time.
According to Slater, Thompson doesn't have an offer on the table from the Warriors and talks were "frozen" between the parties as of last week.
Thompson, a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three in 77 appearances last season.