Dallas Mavericks reach buyout agreement with veteran Klay Thompson

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Published August 21, 2026 3:02 PM CDT

The Brief

    • The Dallas Mavericks and veteran guard/forward Klay Thompson have agreed to a contract buyout, the team announced on Friday.
    • Thompson had one year remaining on a three-year contract he signed upon being traded to the Mavericks in July 2024.
    • The four-time NBA champion averaged 12.9 points in 141 games in Dallas, shooting 40.3% from the field and 38.7% on three-point shots.

DALLAS - One of the players brought in to help the Mavericks make a championship push in 2024 now leaves the team without ever having made the NBA Playoffs in Dallas.

Klay Thompson buyout

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 27: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 27, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, …

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What we know:

The Mavericks announced they have agreed to a contract buyout with guard/forward Klay Thompson on Friday.

Thompson is now a free agent, and is eligible to sign with any of the other 29 NBA franchises.

What they're saying:

"Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization," said Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri. "We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward."

Dig deeper:

Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, came to Dallas in a six-team trade in 2024.

He was supposed to be the finishing piece on a team ready to return to the NBA Finals after losing it the previous season. Instead, his Mavs career ends without ever making the NBA Playoffs.

Thompson played in 141 games with the Mavericks over two seasons, and started 80 of those games. He averaged 12.9 points per game and shot 40.3% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.

In January, the legendary sharpshooter passed Damian Lillard for fourth place on the NBA's all-time three-point field goals made list. He's made 2,899 three-pointers since entering the NBA in 2011.

Thompson made at least 200 three-pointers in both seasons with the Mavericks, and is one of two players with more than 200 three-pointers in ten or more seasons.

What's next:

The Mavs begin their preseason schedule on October 9 against the Houston Rockets in Macau, China, as part of the NBA China Games. That game will start at 7 a.m. CT.

On October 24 at 7 p.m., the Mavs will play their first home game of the season against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, the third straight season Dallas will play San Antonio in their home opener.

The Source: Information in this story comes from the Dallas Mavericks.

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