Dallas, TX – Klay Thompson has agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, including a player option for the final year, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This move marks the end of Thompson’s 13-year tenure and four championship titles with the Golden State Warriors. However, the Warriors have yet to finalize their part of the deal, according to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer.
The proposed transaction is expected to be a sign-and-trade deal that would send Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets. Thompson, a five-time All-Star and four-time champion, has spent his entire career with the Warriors until this point.
The Golden State Warriors, after enduring years of expensive luxury taxes, multiple draft picks aimed at finding Thompson’s replacement, and unsuccessful pursuit of Paul George, have decided not to retain Thompson. This decision paves the way for Thompson to join Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
Last offseason, the Warriors reportedly offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million contract, significantly less than Draymond Green’s four-year, $100 million deal and Jordan Poole’s four-year, $128 million contract. Thompson rejected the offer, and during the season, the Warriors increasingly relied on rookie shooting guard Brandin Podziemski, even bringing Thompson off the bench for a period.
The separation of Thompson, Green, and Stephen Curry marks the end of one of the most successful trios in NBA history. Together, they have amassed the third-most playoff wins as a trio, with 98 victories, trailing only Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Cooper (110) and Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili (126). Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers with 3,747, and Thompson, who ranks sixth with 2,481, have spent the majority of their careers together.
Thompson’s move to Dallas means he will join the reigning Western Conference champions, whose offense struggled in the NBA Finals, scoring only 106.7 points per 100 possessions. While Thompson’s addition is expected to bolster their offense, there will be stylistic adjustments required. The Warriors’ motion offense, designed to capitalize on off-ball movement, contrasts with the Mavericks’ heliocentric offense built around Doncic’s shot creation. Both teams will need to make compromises, but given the talent involved, this is feasible.
Thompson was also reportedly linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers, which made sense given his childhood in the region and his father’s history with the Lakers. However, the Lakers were a Play-In team last season, and the Clippers lost Paul George. The Mavericks, bringing back most of last season’s relatively young Western Conference champions, appear to be a more formidable option heading into the 2024-25 season.
In conclusion, while the Warriors and Mavericks are still finalizing the details, Thompson’s potential move to Dallas signifies a significant shift in the NBA landscape. The Mavericks aim to leverage Thompson’s shooting prowess to complement their offense, hoping to build on their recent success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Klay Thompson’s move to the Dallas Mavericks is partly motivated by the team’s recent success as the reigning Western Conference champions. The Mavericks offer a competitive environment and the potential for Thompson to play a key role in bolstering their offense.
Thompson’s addition will require the Mavericks to make stylistic adjustments. The team will need to integrate Thompson’s strengths from the Warriors’ motion offense with their existing heliocentric offense built around Luka Doncic’s shot creation.
Yes, Klay Thompson was also linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers. The Lakers, however, were only a Play-In team last season, and the Clippers had lost Paul George, making the Mavericks a more formidable option for him.
Klay Thompson’s departure signifies a significant shift for the Golden State Warriors. Having spent most of his career with the team, Thompson’s move marks the end of an era for the Warriors, who will now need to adjust their strategy and lineup.
Yes, both the Mavericks and Thompson will need to make compromises. The Mavericks will need to adapt their offensive strategies to incorporate Thompson’s off-ball movement, while Thompson will need to adjust to the Mavericks’ heliocentric system focused on Doncic.
