Klay Day is now moving to the Big D.
Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson is set to leave the Golden State Warriors, his home for the first 13 years in the Association, to join the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal worth three-year, $50 million, per multiple reports.
BREAKING: Free agent Klay Thompson plans to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50M deal with a player option, sources tell ESPN. Thompson ends his historic Warriors run as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade that’ll also send Josh Green to Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/4GJ5hR3H5o
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
The Warriors will reportedly receive two second-round draft picks from the Mavericks– a 2025 and 2031 selections–for Thompson, while the Charlotte Hornets will receive Josh Green to help facilitate the deal. NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the said deal.
In another offseason blockbuster, Thompson ended his partnership with Golden State where he blossomed into one of the best two-way guards in the league, and formed a historic trio with backcourt teammates Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
The trio combined for six NBA Finals appearances, appeared in 721 total games together in regular season and playoffs combined and won 518 games, the sixth most wins by a trio all-time.
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green's career together including playoffs and play-in🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 1, 2024
6 — NBA Finals
4 — NBA Titles
721 — Games
518-203 — Record
.718 — Win percentage
They had the 6th most wins by a trio all-time.
End of an Era 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/i9kbzD1IFd
While in the Bay Area, the 34-year-old made his mark and became a five-time All-Star, twice a member of the All-NBA third team, an all-NBA Defensive Second Team member and the 2016 NBA All-Star Three-point king.
Thompson also produced some of the most prolific scoring performances in league history while donning the Warriors jersey, including a NBA-record 37-point third quarter against the Sacramento Kings in 2015, dropping 60 points in just 11 dribbles in three quarters in 2016, drilling a NBA-record 13 triples in 2019, and countless “Game 6 Klay” moments.
But two catastrophic injuries- a torn ACL injury in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors and a torn Achilles before the start of 2020-21 season forced Klay to sit out two full seasons. He eventually returned to help Golden State win a fourth championship in this era in 2022.
Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.2% overall and 38.7% on 3-pointers last season, but the Warriors were booted early by the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament.
[ALSO READ: Kings eliminate Warriors as payback, to face Pelicans for final West playoff spot]
Jersey in the rafters
To remember his contributions, the Golden State Warriors announced they would retire Thompson's #11 jersey when he decides to end his playing career.
"We can't overstate Klay Thompson's incredible and legendary contributions with the Warriors during his 13 years with the team," the squad said. "Klay's legacy will live on forever and we look forward to the day we can retire his #11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will join a host of Warriors immortals, including those who helped shape this recent dynasty--himself included."
"We thank Klay for his contributions and wish himt he best as another chapter in his journey is written."
Warriors statement on Klay Thompson: pic.twitter.com/qIscaFW5mN
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) July 2, 2024
Missing piece?
Klay is set to join Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks after their remarkable playoff run that ended in a five-game NBA Finals loss to eventual champions Boston Celtics.
[ALSO READ: 'I’m proud of every one of them': Luka Doncic shows love to Mavericks despite falling short in NBA Finals vs Celtics]
In hopes of surrounding Doncic and Irving with additional shooting and court spacing, Mavericks general manager added Thompson, a three-level scorer who can become a solid third star alongside their dynamic backcourt and can defend.
Thompson played in 77 games last season and ranked fourth in total 3-pointers made (268) 268 last season, and actually led the league in 2023 with 301.
