Warriors and Ma​vericks trade rumor. Image via: Warriors and Mavericks​Klay Thompson's expiring Mavericks contract has turned a throwaway autograph line into the NBA's newest reunion storyline. Dallas has shown no interest in a buyout, meaning any exit runs through a trade, but that hasn't stopped Golden State from reemerging as the sentimental frontrunner. The timing matters because the Warriors are also chasing LeBron James this offseason, and insiders now link both pursuits together.CategoryDetailPlayerKlay ThompsonCurrent TeamDallas MavericksRumored TeamGolden State WarriorsContract StatusFinal year of a 3-year, $50 million deal signed in 2024Salary Cap HitApproximately $17.46 million (2026-27)Trade LikelihoodLow unless the Warriors land LeBron JamesLatest Insider UpdateJake Fischer reports mutual openness to a reunionPotential ReturnA buyout is considered more realistic than a trade, per reportsWhich teams are interested in Klay Thompson?Klay Thompson. Image via: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesGolden State isn't the only team circling Thompson if Dallas moves on. The Miami Heat are reportedly interested contingent on a buyout, since Tim Hardaway Jr. is currently their only reliable outside shooter. The Los Angeles Lakers carry a family tie through Thompson's father, Mychal, a longtime figure in that organization. Detroit and Orlando have also been floated as fits, given both teams lack shooting depth. None of that momentum matches the emotional pull of Golden State, though, especially after Thompson told a fan who said they missed him on the Warriors, "Never say never."What are insiders saying about the trade rumor?Jake Fischer reports Thompson and the Warriors would both welcome a reunion, particularly if Golden State wins the LeBron James sweepstakes and needs shooting around him."He's had interest in playing with LeBron in the past. I do think that there would be excitement from both sides, of Golden State and Klay, to really go out on a high note," Fischer said on his podcast.Analyst Charles North went further, arguing a Thompson return alongside James would recreate a lineup capable of rivaling any trio in league history when paired with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. “Thompson returning to the Golden State Warriors would be absolutely amazing, especially if LeBron James went there as well. The starting five would be filled with legendary players whom fans would rush to their TV screens to watch each night. The fit is obviously great, with the chemistry between him, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green rivaling any other trio to ever play,” Charles North shared.Not everyone is convinced a move alone fixes Golden State's roster problems given how the offseason has gone so far.Contract details and salary cap implicationsThompson is playing out the final season of the three-year, $50 million deal he signed with Dallas in 2024, carrying a base salary near $17.46 million for 2026-27. That expiring number makes him a manageable trade chip, though teams remain wary of taking on a 36-year-old whose production has dipped to 11.7 points per game on 38.3 percent three-point shooting last season. A buyout, rather than a trade, gives Golden State the clearer path since it would let Thompson sign for less than his current cap hit.How the trade could impact both teamsFor Dallas, moving on from Thompson closes the book on a pairing that never got going after Luka Doncic's trade reshaped the roster around him.For Golden State, adding Thompson gives Curry a familiar co-star and instant floor spacing, but only solves part of a roster that has otherwise had a quiet offseason. If James also signs, the Warriors could field a lineup built on institutional memory rather than fresh additions, a gamble that hinges entirely on decisions still pending in Dallas and free agency.The next checkpoint is Dallas's buyout market decision, expected before training camp opens. Thompson's next move now depends on choices made in two front offices at once.