Will Dallas explore trading Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford?

The Dallas Mavericks they have been one of the most confusing teams in the NBA over the past year. Dallas endured a forgettable start to the 2025-26 NBA campaign trade rumors are already starting to swirl. So, will the Mavs consider trading players such as Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford before the 2026 trade deadline?

The Mavs acquired Thompson as part of a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2024. Thompson was excited about going to Dallas — as he would get a chance to potentially win his fifth championship while playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Fast forward to November 2025 and Luca is now with the Los Angeles Lakers as Kyrie recovers from ACL surgery.

Meanwhile, Gafford was acquired before the trade deadline in 2024. He played a significant role in the Mavs’ championship chase. Although Dallas lost in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Gafford established himself as a reliable center alongside Derek Lively II.

With Anthony Davis and Lively now on the roster, Gafford has been mentioned as a trade candidate in recent months.

So what are the latest updates on Thompson and Gafford?

A Klay Thompson trade is not out of the question

A source previously told ClutchPoints that a trade of Thompson is not out of the question. The Mavs are looking for ways to build around Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Moving Thompson could give them younger talent for the future.

It remains to be seen what the Hall of Fame’s future stance is on a potential trade. Thompson was recently benchednevertheless. When he first joined Dallas, Klay was ready to start and play a big role, so maybe the bench will influence his thinking on the situation. That said, Thompson has endured a miserable start to the new campaign, so the benching wasn’t particularly surprising.

Trading Thompson can be difficult given his poor performance. If Klay rebounds in the next few months — and Dallas continues to struggle — the likelihood of a trade will increase. If the Mavs find themselves in legitimate contention or Thompson is unable to find his rhythm, the chances of him being traded are likely slim.

However, trade is not excluded as mentioned above.

Will the Mavs move on from Daniel Gafford?

In all reality, Gafford is more likely to be moved — but that doesn’t mean a deal will happen. Lively’s injury concerns are a concern, but he’s still considered the center of the future in Dallas. Although Davis prefers the four, he is capable of filling the five.

Moving Gafford to help with the three-point shooting could prove to be a viable option. The Mavs could also trade him for more versatile depth.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, a number of teams — including the Los Angeles Lakers — are following Gafford’s situation with the Mavs.

“One quick tidbit surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ slow start has teams wondering if they’ll make roster changes before the trade deadline,” Siegel recently wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Several teams continue to pursue Daniel Gafford, including the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said.” @ClutchPoints.”

Final remarks

When it comes to the Gafford and Thompson situations, there are no guarantees that either player will be traded. The Mavericks could keep both the forward and center through the 2025-26 season. However, if Dallas decides to make moves at the trade deadline, Thompson and Gafford’s names will likely be the least mentioned.