End of an Era: Klay Thompson Joins Dallas in a Three-Year, $50 Million Deal
Five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson has moved on to the next chapter of his career after the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, which marks the end of an era of the Dubs Dynasty. Thompson now has a chance to enjoy a fresh start with the Mavs, who recently reached the NBA Finals.
Thompson has been in the free agency rumors ever since the Warriors got eliminated in the Play-In Tournament at the hands of the Sacramento Kings. It can be remembered that Thompson went 0/10 from the field in that elimination game. Now with the Mavericks, the four-time NBA champion arrives with the team with the hopes of fixing their shooting woes in the game.
For the Warriors, this opens up a cap space that will allow them to sign a new player – at a star level to pair with Stephen Curry. The Warriors were expecting to bring Thompson to agree with a deducted salary, but the latter was hoping to stay but with a max contract.
A Renewed Chance with Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks made an outstanding run in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and while they have been really efficient from three, their 36% overall in the playoffs dipped to 31% with the likes of PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr, and Maxi Kleber missing massive shots in the NBA Finals. Even both Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic hitting some strides against the Boston Celtics, it wasn’t enough to see them through as they got eliminated in five games.
Thompson isn’t the same player as he was compared to the previous years, especially after that injury in 2018. In 2023-24, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.2% overall and 38.7% on 3-pointers, which makes him a promising addition to the Mavs at this point, and it cannot be denied that they bring in a guard who can score from three and also make some runs at the rim and even defend when needed.
In 77 games last season, Thompson was ranked fourth in total 3-pointers made. It cannot be denied that he will be having a reduced role with Dallas at this point, but maybe he can make the most of his second chance in the game with a much better squad at his disposal.
End of an Era for Golden State
Last season saw massive changes to the Warriors’ rotation. Thompson was sent to the bench for the first time since 2012, and it seems that was capitalized as the Warriors made no known moves to extend his stay after his five-year deal with the team worth $190 million expired by the end of the 2023-24 season.
Thompson is a winner with the Warriors. He is famously known for being Stephen Curry’s duo in the Splash Brothers, which played a huge role in their dynasty that resulted in four championships in seven trips to the NBA Finals. His 2,481 made 3-pointers in the regular season are the sixth-most in NBA history and the 501 threes he has made in the playoffs are more than anyone other than Curry.
Moving on to the Dallas Mavericks marks the end of the Dubs Dynasty. Thompson’s new chapter may be his last chance to get a ring now more than ever, and no one can deny that this run will define his career than any other year in his run.