Every year the NBA offseason never fails to captivate us with breaking news, shocking signings, large contracts, and trades you didn't see coming. Of all the four major sports (NFL, NHL, NBA, & MLB), no sport captivates as well during the offseason as they do the regular season annually like the NBA.
The summer of 2024 has been no different, with interesting headlines from Paul George leaving his hometown, the Los Angeles Clippers, to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey out in Philadelphia to compete for a title.
Aside from that, the biggest move some may have seen coming a mile away, but most didn't think it would become a reality...Former "Splash Bro" Klay Thompson is no longer a Golden State Warrior alongside his "Splash Brother" Stephen Curry and Swiss army knife Draymond Green, whom he spent 12 seasons with, where they won four titles and made six final appearances.
Simply marks the end of an illustrious and dominant era in NBA history. Thompson signed a 3-year/$50 million deal to join the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade, less annually than what he would have received with the Warriors, who offered him $48 million for two years.
There are also rumors Thompson tried one more time with the Warriors to get a two-year, $20 million deal but the front office said they couldn't "yet" per Warriors Insider Kendra Andrews and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Thompson joins a dynamic offensive backcourt alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who are coming off a surprising NBA Finals run where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Oddsmakers don't seem to believe Thompson's signing makes much of a difference, having the odds remain 11-1 even after Thompson's signing. With all that being said here's why I believe Thompson is a perfect fit for the Mavericks.
3) Thompson's elite shooting will space for the floor for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks struggled mightily in the Finals connecting from downtown, and shooting just 31.6% in the series per NBA.com. This allowed the Celtics to sag off defensively against a Mavericks team that couldn't make them respect them from the outside.
Adding in arguably the second-best shooter in NBA history will make that much easier as someone who's never hot less than 38% from three in any season of his legendary career and has hit numerous big-time shots in big games.
He led the league in 3-Point Makes in 2022-23, showing exactly why he's still one of the most feared shooters across the entire association and one of the best of all time. Thompson may not be one of the best two-way players that he once was before the injuries ravaged him of his lateral quickness defensively and explosiveness, but he's still a deadeye shooter you must respect.
Thompson's ability as one of the best off-ball movers in NBA history will serve well in an offense that will be predominantly running plays for Doncic and Irving. Look out!
2) Thompson brings championship mettle
The only Maverick on the roster last season who knows what it takes to win a championship is Kyrie Irving, besting Thompson and the Warriors in that epic 2016 clash for the ages that went seven games with the Cavaliers making history as the only team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the finals.
Being a champion is one thing, but being a multi-time champion is another level not even Irving can claim. Thompson coming to an organization that has a sour taste of losing in the finals where they were outmatched will help bring that mental toughness and title pedigree that will rub off on his teammates.
The Mavericks have some young pieces that could definitely benefit from Thompson's experience and winning pedigree from Dereck Lively who surprised many this season with his level of play on both ends all season long. Let's not forget their 2022 draft pick, Jaden Hardy, who could pick up pointers on how to move without the ball better from one of the best to do it in NBA history.
He and Irving will be the veterans looked upon as two guys who are future Hall of Famers who have proven to be winners at the NBA level to help get Doncic and the Mavericks over the hump.
1) Thompson fits perfectly as a third option
As mentioned earlier Thompson is a perfect third option for Doncic and Irving who will serve as the primary and secondary scoring options respectively. That'll be no problem for Thompson whose game is predicated on moving without the ball which has been his bread and butter throughout his career as an elite sniper and marksman.
He led the league in off-ball frequency in the regular season last year at 33.1% per NBA.com with an effective FG% of 56.9. Adding that to the Maverick's offensive attack will make that trio of Doncic and Irvin virtually unstoppable offensively with Doncic's and Irving's ability to draw the double due to their uncanny ability to get wherever on the court, collapsing the defense opening up looks for Thompson.
Despite his injuries, Thompson still averaged 18PPG last season with the two other seasons before that post injuries averaging over 20+. His efficiency will need to improve, shooting below 45% from the field in his three seasons back from his injuries, but with a new change of scenery and dynamic backcourt with two elite creators he'll get open looks all day.It's a new era in the NBA.