Klay Thompson is starting a new chapter in his NBA career, and it’s going to be with the Dallas Mavericks. It was a surprise landing spot for one of the best shooters ever in the history of the league, but it can also be said that his split with the Golden State Warriors, as shocking as it was, was not entirely unforeseen.
Thompson wanted to get a big bag from the Warriors, but he and Golden State ultimately did not come to terms, leading to his departure and eventual signing with the Mavericks.
any case, Thompson’s Warriors legacy is solid as a rock. He will always be viewed as one of the greatest ever to wear Golden State colors, having won four NBA titles with the Dubs while forming arguably the best backcourt duo in league history.
Thompson is a career 41.3 percent 3-point shooter, and he’ll look to help Dallas in that area after the Mavs shot just 31.6 percent in the 2024 NBA Finals against the BostonDuring the Mavericks’ press conference on Tuesday to introduce Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes, Thompson opens up about his split with the WarriorsJJ Redick hire and Bronny James draft selection notwithstanding, the Lakers have had a quiet offseason thus far. But not by design. The Lakers reportedly pursued the likes of Klay Thompson, Buddy Hield, DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas, all of whom decided to sign elsewhere. Furthermore, LeBron James reportedly was willing to take a pay cut for Thompson and made a recruitment pitch to the ex-Warrior at the start of free agency. In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Sunday, James was asked about the Lakers’ failed attempt to land any of the prized free agents. “It takes two to tango,” James said of the Lakers striking out. “I think our front office, our coaching staff, they tried to do the job that they wanted to do or tried to get guys to come, and it didn’t happen. And that’s OK. That’s part of the business. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that sometimes it happens, sometimes it don’t. “So, we don’t sit here and lie about or cry about it. We move on. And Klay’s a great player. Obviously, DeMar’s a great player. Valanciunas was one of those guys who ended up going to Washington, was someone that was in talks with us, but we move on to see how we continue to get better.” If the 2024-25 season were to start today, the Lakers would be bringing back at least 11 players from last season’s roster that finished seventh in the crowded West. The minimal roster turnover is why oddsmakers in Vegas have given the Lakers the ninth-shortest odds to win the NBA title next year. While some still feel, though, that the Lakers will have another underwhelming season, James believes his team isn’t “that far off” from title contention. That may hinge on more roster upgrades, which there is little hope for ahead of the 2024-25 season unless the Lakers take the drastic step of trading Austin Reaves.
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