The Dallas Mavericks had one of the best offseasons in the NBA this summer, largely due to acquiring Klay Thompson through a six-team sign-and-trade. The Mavericks signed Thompson to a three-year, $50 million deal, a contract that is very favorable for the team. This move underscores Dallas’ commitment to improving their shooting, a need that became apparent after their five-game loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Thompson is expected to start as the small forward for the Mavericks, joining Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II in the starting lineup. As a result, head coach Jason Kidd will have a significantly revamped roster to work with next season, thanks to the team’s successful offseason moves.
The Mavericks managed to sign Thompson despite strong interest from the Los Angeles Lakers. While several factors influenced Thompson’s decision to join Dallas, one key reason was Kyrie Irving’s role in recruiting him to the team.
Jason Kidd, during an appearance on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast, discussed how Irving played a crucial part in convincing Thompson to sign with the Mavericks. “It was a lot of people that were involved in [Thompson’s recruitment]. But one of the biggest players in that was Kai [Kyrie Irving],” Kidd said. He emphasized that Irving and Thompson had direct conversations, with Irving sharing his positive experiences in Dallas since being traded there during the 2022-23 season.
Jason Kidd on Kyrie Irving helping recruit Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks: pic.twitter.com/kXyb5QdZn6
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Irving, once labeled as a locker room issue, has had a nearly flawless tenure with the Mavericks, both on and off the court. His positive experience with the team likely played a significant role in convincing Thompson to join. Irving reportedly gave Thompson an “honest truth” about what it’s like to be a Maverick, which helped sway Thompson’s decision.
Thompson, who had grown unhappy with the Golden State Warriors, needed a fresh start after feeling overlooked by his former team. With the support of Irving and Kidd, Thompson could find Dallas to be the perfect environment to return to his peak performance. The Mavericks’ successful management of their roster and locker room under Kidd’s leadership might make Thompson’s decision to join the team one of the best moves he could have made this summer.
