Through 11 games in 2025-26, the Mavericks are 3-8. On Tuesday, November 11, the team fired general manager Nico Harrsion after four seasons.
Harrison is responsible for trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers. It’s a deal that has turned out to be extremely lopsided, and not in favor of Dallas. After spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Warriors, Klay Thompson landed with the Mavericks. He was sent to Dallas via a sign-and-trade and got a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks. Thompson wanted to play with Luka Doncic. Months later, we’ve come to find out that Klay Thompson turned a four-year, $80 million deal with the Lakers.
Klay Thompson could have added an extra $30 million to his deal if he had signed with Los Angeles
After the 2023-24 season, the Warriors and Klay Thompson could not reach a contract extension. That made the four-time NBA champion a free agent. Thompson wanted to make a calculated move that could help him add another title to his resume. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that Doncic was offered a four-year, $80 million deal by the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, their star pairing was Lebron James and Anthony Davis.
Thompson was offered a smaller, three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks. Dallas was coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Celtics. Klay Thompson wanted to pair with Luka Doncic and compete for another title. Little did Thompson know he would be on he wrong side of one of the worst trades in NBA history. At the trade deadline in his first season with Dallas, Klay Thompson watched Luka Doncic get traded to the Lakers.
The 35-year-old specifically chose Dallas to play with Luka Doncic. Months later, Doncic was no longer on the roster. If Thompson had signed with Los Angeles, there’s a chance he would be playing with Luka Doncic this season. Instead, he’s still on the Mavericks’ roster and has lost his starting spot. Thompson’s 7.4 points per game are by far the lowest of his career. Thompson is struggling to begin the 2025-26 season. It doesn’t help that he’s on a Dallas roster that lacks direction after Nico Harrison was fired.