The Dallas Mavericks made an exciting move on Monday during free agency, completing a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors for guard Klay Thompson. Thompson will join the Mavericks on a three-year contract worth $50 million.
This sign-and-trade will also result in two future second-round picks being sent to the Warriors, while Mavericks guard Josh Green will be traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
Thompson is coming off a solid year with the Warriors, during which he averaged 17.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from the three-point line.
The former Warriors shooting guard is widely regarded as one of the best shooters of all time. During his 13 seasons with the team, he helped guide the Warriors to four championships.
During his tenure, Thompson was also named to five NBA All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams, adding on one season in which he was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
The veteran shooting guard will provide a significant bump for the Mavericks’ three-point shooting ability. The team struggled to make open shots during the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, making just 31.1% of three-point attempts in the five games.
In comparison, Thompson made an impressive 37.9% of his wide-open shot attempts from behind the three-point line during the regular season, as Golden State failed to make the NBA Playoffs this past season.
The Warriors released a statement shortly after the news that Thompson would be leaving the team, writing that the organization “can’t overstate Klay Thompson’s incredible and legendary contributions with the Warriors.”
“The amount of joy and happiness that Klay provided Warriors fans, Bay Area natives and Dub nation supporters all around the world has been immense and cannot be minimized,” wrote the franchise.
This sign-and-trade is one of multiple moves the Mavericks have made so far during the NBA offseason, including a trade with the Detroit Pistons for guard Quentin Grimes.
Dallas sent the Pistons multiple second-round picks and Tim Hardaway Jr., who was set to make roughly $16.2 million in the coming season.
Trading Hardaway helped clear the necessary cap space to sign Thompson and forward Naji Marshall, who signed with the Mavericks on a three-year contract worth $27 million, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
