The summer of 2024 saw Klay Thompson end a 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors after winning four championships with the franchise. He ventured out on his own to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, hoping to reinvigorate his career playing off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Thompson turned down a more financially lucrative contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to join Dallas.
Klay signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks. The Athletic’s Sam Amick said that the Lakers were reportedly willing to offer Thompson a four-year, $80 million deal, adding a guaranteed year and a larger annual salary.
Now that eight months have passed, there’s no way Thompson isn’t regretting his decision given the entirely different trajectories of both franchises.
Klay is averaging 13.8 points this season with the Mavericks. The franchise is 32-30, rooted to the No. 10 seed, and is predicted to fall with their injury crisis. The Lakers, on the other hand, are the No. 2 seed with a 39-21 record, looking set to return to the Playoffs.
He’s not been a major contributor but he’s been a great signing for the price and the fact that he essentially replaced a more expensive Tim Hardaway Jr. on their roster.
However, Klay’s future with the Mavericks looks grim after a series of unfortunate decisions and events.
The Luka Doncic Trade
The biggest factor in Klay’s decision turning sour has to be the fact that the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic halfway through the season. One of the biggest appeals behind joining the Mavericks was playing alongside a shot creator like Doncic, who was also the most doubled star in the league last season. Their connection in games they played together looked elite, too.
While Thompson made his peace with Doncic’s extended absences during the season, he definitely didn’t anticipate Doncic getting moved halfway into the first year of his three-year contract. While he’s surrounded by other familiar veterans and a respected coach like Jason Kidd, this trade has made his on-court situation materially worse.
Thompson might see an artificial increase in his production given the Mavericks’ current injury situation, but it won’t be enough to make the franchise a title contender. The ultimate goal was to win a title outside the Warriors system. That doesn’t look likely now, especially after a major injury that rocked the franchise’s future.
Kyrie Irving’s Career-Altering Injury
During the Mavericks’ loss to the Sacramento Kings, a game where Klay scored just three points, the franchise saw point guard Kyrie Irving tear his ACL in the first quarter. Not only does that spell the end for Kyrie this season, but the guard will likely miss most of next season as well, if not the entirety of it.
Upon returning, many will have serious questions about how a guard like Kyrie can maintain his play-style after such a career-altering injury at 32 years old. Klay can relate after seeing his prime cut short due to an ACL and Achilles tear in back-to-back seasons, ruling him out for two-and-a-half years.
Klay has never been the same, so it’s hard to imagine an older Irving rebounding back to the All-NBA level he was playing at this season.
Irving’s injury comes as part of debilitating injuries all across the team. Anthony Davis is out with an adductor strain and could be shut down for the remainder of the season. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively are out for at least another month, with PJ Washington also sidelined. Jaden Hardy also went down in the Kings’ loss, so the Mavericks have a major injury crisis right now.
Klay might enjoy more 20-point games by virtue of opportunity, but it’s unlikely he’ll get to fulfill his goal of competing for a title.
The Lakers Are Shining
The worst part of Klay’s decision to leave the Warriors for Dallas has to be the fact that he turned down the Lakers to do so. It was a clear win-now decision, as the Mavericks were coming off the NBA Finals and the Lakers looked stuck as a middle-tier franchise. However, the Mavericks handing them Doncic and the hiring of JJ Redick has transformed the team into championship contention.
Thompson would’ve been enough of a lethal weapon alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis to eat off open opportunities. Now that Doncic is the one in LA, it has to be rubbing Klay the wrong way that he could’ve had two elite perimeter creators to play off with LeBron but is stuck on a team without healthy guards.
The Lakers look like potential contenders this season and are well-placed to remain competitive beyond this season. Klay made it clear he joined Dallas to play alongside talents like Luka and Kyrie, but it turns out he won’t get either. If he joined LA, not only would he guarantee court time alongside LeBron, but he could’ve been the biggest beneficiary on the LA roster with Doncic’s arrival.
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