Team reporter: The Mavericks have a difficult season and Klay may become the focus of the trade. Reconstruction has become the consensus among fans.

Today, Mavericks reporter Jaren Boslow issued an article stating that Clay may have become the focus of the team's trade. The following is part of the content.

The Dallas Mavericks did not have a smooth start to the season. After recently losing to the New York Knicks 113-111, their record fell to 4 wins and 12 losses. This is obviously not the result that fans expected to see, especially at the beginning of the season when there were high hopes of hitting the championship. After 16 games and the firing of Nico Harrison, the Mavericks may be headed for a new direction at the trade deadline.

Reconstruction has become the consensus in the minds of most fans, and the Mavericks must ensure that they get the maximum value from the players they choose to trade. First of all, one of the most obvious trade candidates is Anthony Davis, and while the Mavericks could get a lot of assets through him, players like Klay Thompson or Daniel Gafford are the key players the Mavericks need to get more value through trades. Both Gafford and Thompson have been involved in trade rumors this season, and the Mavericks must do everything possible to maximize their value if they decide to give up on them.

Now might be the best time for Dallas to trade Klay Thompson. For Thompson, his performance at the beginning of the season made him almost unplayable, and it is difficult to trade considering his contract (two years and $34 million left) and age; however, in recent games, the four-time champion has gradually regained his form, and Thompson's trade value may be worthy of the Mavericks' consideration. In the past five games, Thompson averaged 14.2 points per game and shot 36.5% from three-point range. He's proven that his early slumps are a thing of the past, and the Mavericks' plans for him and a clearer use of his role in the offense have had a significant effect on his performance.

There is no doubt that when Thompson joined the Mavericks in the 2024 offseason, he was to supplement a team that had just experienced the NBA Finals, but due to a lack of space, they performed poorly on the offensive end. Since Doncic was traded in February and Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in early March, Thompson's status on the court has looked bleak. Even entering this season, Thompson was considered one of the only players on the Mavericks who could shoot from anywhere on the floor with consistency, but that hasn't been the case.

Throughout the first ten games of the season, Thompson has clearly lost his former athleticism, and while reducing his playing time would have been an easy choice, he may have had the best time to break an early slump. While his new shooting touch hasn't translated directly into wins for the Mavericks, his appeal as a potential trade target is growing for both championship contending teams and teams looking to add veteran shooters.

It's unclear how much market Thompson will appeal to given his age, but his asking price is rising quickly for teams looking to add shooting or just a veteran who understands the playoffs. Against the Knicks, Thompson made 3 of 9 three-pointers, but continued to draw the attention of New York's defense, creating one of the best shooting nights of the season for the Mavericks. While he's no longer the player he was in his youth, his veteran mentality and ability to overcome shooting slumps make him one of the most trade-worthy players as the Mavericks rebuild around Cooper Flagg. The next few months could have a big impact on the future of Mavericks basketball, and Thompson's hot play from beyond the arc could be a bonus for Dallas.