Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr during an NBA game.
The Golden State Warriors are getting a reunion push from a familiar voice.
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague said on Club 520 that the Warriors should trade for Klay Thompson and bring the franchise legend back “home,” framing it as the kind of move that could help Golden State and put Thompson back where he built his career next to Stephen Curry.
The timing is obvious: the NBA trade deadline is February 5, and every team with a big decision to make is staring at that date.
Key details (fast context)
Jeff Teague Says Warriors Should Bring Klay Thompson Back
Teague’s pitch is simple: if Golden State is going to swing at the deadline, why not swing for a player who fits the system, fits the fan base, and already understands the pressure of playing deep into May and June?
It’s also the cleanest kind of “pressure moment” story that we love: a looming deadline, a franchise crossroads, and a famous name attached to the conversation.
Why It Matters for the Warriors
Even if fans roll their eyes at “nostalgia trades,” the Warriors’ deadline reality is sharp. There’s only so long a team can live in the gray area between contender and rebuild before it has to choose a direction.
One key roster note: Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15, which is a big reason Golden State’s situation has felt like it’s been on pause.
If the Warriors decide they need more shooting, more experience, or simply a “known” playoff archetype next to Curry, Thompson will always be the easiest emotional sell, even if the basketball math and the asset cost are where this gets complicated fast.
What a Klay Trade Would Actually Take
This is where Teague’s idea runs into reality: Thompson isn’t a free agent anymore, and Dallas doesn’t have to do Golden State any favors.
Thompson signed with the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract in 2024, which means any deal would require workable salary matching and a real return that Dallas believes helps its own timeline.
If the Warriors are going to trade for Klay Thompson while keeping the salary math realistic for both sides, the cleanest guess is that one of Golden State’s mid-to-big money pieces has to be in it, most logically Jonathan Kuminga (as the simplest single-contract match), or a two-for-two built around Moses Moody and Buddy Hield going out with Dallas sending Thompson plus a smaller contract back (to keep Dallas from taking on extra money); a deeper “roster-shakeup” version could also bundle Moody with Gary Payton II and/or De’Anthony Melton to reach Klay’s number, but the simplest, most believable constructions start with Kuminga or Moody/Hield as the core outgoing pieces.
None of that means a reunion is “likely.” It means it’s the kind of deadline idea that only becomes real if both teams decide their current path isn’t good enough.
What Happens Next
The urgency is built in: the trade deadline is Feb. 5.
The follow-up triggers are obvious:
Kuminga hitting Jan. 15 trade eligibility.
Any new reporting tying Dallas to deadline moves (which could clarify whether veterans like Thompson are firmly in their plans). l
A notable Thompson performance swing (hot streak or reduced role) as the deadline approaches.