Klay Thompson Joins Dallas Mavericks on Lucrative Three-Year Deal
In a move that signals a significant shift within the NBA landscape, Klay Thompson has officially signed with the Dallas Mavericks, securing a three-year, $50 million contract. This surprise transfer marks the end of an illustrious 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors, where Thompson clinched four NBA championships.
Thompson’s departure from the Warriors comes after an injury-plagued period during which he tore his ACL and Achilles tendon in consecutive summers, sidelining him for the entire 2019-20 season and the one that followed. Despite these setbacks, Thompson made a triumphant return and played a pivotal role in the Warriors’ 2022 title victory.
However, Thompson’s time with Golden State began to unravel last season. The shooting guard, who was in the third season of a five-year, $189 million contract, found himself removed from both starting and closing lineups at various points. The Warriors, meanwhile, were contending with salary cap constraints and had extended significant contracts to other key players, including a $123 million extension for Jordan Poole and a four-year, $100 million deal for Draymond Green last summer.
As the Warriors aimed to get below the luxury-tax line, they offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million extension before last season, a proposal he eventually turned down. The negotiations and eventual parting of ways were not without their complexities, as highlighted by Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Slater shed light on the nuanced dynamics between Thompson and the Warriors' front office: “The Warriors and Thompson have differing versions of the firmness of the offer and, again, the true desire of the franchise's lead decision-makers in valuing him as a can't-lose member of the core.” The layers of discord evolved over a five-year period, leading to a separation that was finalized in recent weeks.
In these final stages, Thompson engaged in numerous conversations, one of which involved Stephen Curry, his long-time teammate and friend. According to Slater, Thompson requested that Curry not leverage his considerable influence within the organization to advocate for his return. “Among the conversations Thompson had, league sources said, was a request of Stephen Curry not to exert his significant organizational influence and up the temperature with management to ensure Thompson's return. Curry's measured voice, even if it altered the outcome, wouldn't change the genuineness of Joe Lacob and the front office's true desire to have Thompson back,” Slater reported.
The complexities of the Warriors’ stance on Thompson’s value are underscored by differing perspectives on the firmness of their offer and their actual desire to retain him. As Slater summarized, “The answer to all this is likely somewhere in the middle. The Warriors valued Thompson, just not as much as he desired. They would've loved to have him back on their terms, but not on his. According to Slater, Thompson's decision to leave 'became easy when the Warriors kicked him down the summer pecking order.'”
Speculation had also surrounded potential trades involving marquee players such as Paul George, further illustrating the Warriors' strategic calculus. Ultimately, the franchise's efforts to reconfigure and remain financially prudent amid luxury-tax considerations rendered Thompson's departure an almost inevitable consequence.
As Thompson embarks on this new chapter with the Mavericks, his legacy with the Warriors remains intact, marked by his integral contributions to their championship successes. For the Mavericks, acquiring a player of Thompson’s calibre injects a fresh surge of optimism and talent into their roster, poised to make a significant impact in the seasons ahead.