Klay Thompson is joining the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract after the first six-team trade in NBA history was put together to get him to his preferred destination. Klay finally reacted to the move after the trade was finalized and the Mavs welcomed him to the team on social media.
“This is gonna be so fun.”
Thompson knows he’s headed for a great experience with the Mavericks given a variety of factors.
First, he knows he’ll be relied upon less than he was on the Warriors, allowing him to thrive as a scorer with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving attracting most of the defensive attention from opposing teams. Second, the Mavericks are coming off an NBA Finals where the need for talented shooters became evident during their five-game loss to the Celtics.
Finally, it’s because Kyrie Irving sold Klay on the togetherness of the Mavs, calling it a family and using himself as the ideal example of how the franchise can give veteran stars the confidence to get back to their best versions by minimizing off-court drama.
Klay averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season, converting 38.7% of his 9.0 three-point attempts per game. He shot over 40% after December last season and over 42% after February, so the overall shooting trends of the season indicate Klay is still an elite shooter.
Steve Kerr Is Sad To See Klay Thompson Leave The Warriors
Klay leaving the Warriors marks the end of a 13-year stint with the franchise, during which time Klay won four NBA Championships with the team. He formed one-half of the greatest backcourt in NBA history with Stephen Curry and established himself as one of the greatest shooters in league history.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr coached Klay for the last 10 seasons and bid an emotional farewell to the star shooting guard after he joined the Mavericks.
“I just want to say thank you to Klay Thompson for 13 incredible years, ten of which I was there for. What he did for the team, the organization, for the Bay Area, for me personally — the relationship that we had, all the incredible success but more importantly just going through it all together, it has been so meaningful and so amazing.”
Kerr lamented the poor circumstances that led to the end of the relationship but reiterated his and the franchise’s enduring love for Klay and his accomplishments.
“We are going to miss Klay. We wish him the best. These things rarely go like you want, where you get to draw it up and execute it and everybody goes out together. We were hoping that could happen, but it didn’t. We wish Klay well, but we love him, and we’ll miss him. And Klay, if you’re watching, thank you for everything.”
Klay’s final season with the Warriors was wrought with negativity and tension, with it now being revealed that Klay had one foot out the door all year long.
With their association in the past now, both the player and the team can look back on their achievements with happiness instead of continuing a relationship that clearly had become untenable.
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