**Klay Thompson Moves to Dallas Mavericks on Three-Year, $50 Million Deal**
It’s been anticipated for some time, but it will be odd to see Klay Thompson wearing a new uniform and a different shade of blue as he joins the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson has agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and confirmed by other sources. Although the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, made a strong effort to keep Thompson on the West Coast, it was not enough to sway him.
Thompson’s transition to Dallas will require a sign-and-trade arrangement, with final details still being negotiated. The Golden State Warriors are working to complete a deal that doesn’t add any salary to their books, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT. This trade will likely involve sending Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets as a third team, and the Mavericks may utilize a trade exception from the recent Tim Hardaway Jr. deal to facilitate the trade.
At 34 years old, Thompson averaged 17.9 points per game last season and shot 38.7% from three-point range for the Warriors. Despite this, he struggled with offensive consistency, including a notable 0-of-10 shooting performance in the play-in game against Sacramento, and his defensive prowess has waned over time. Dallas is hoping that Thompson’s veteran presence, alongside the playmaking skills of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, will help him return to his former self and lead the team to success.
In addition to Thompson’s shooting ability, Naji Marshall’s defensive skills will be key in filling the gap left by Derrick Jones Jr., who is now with the Clippers trying to replace Paul George.
Thompson spent 13 years with the Golden State Warriors, securing four NBA championships. However, the two sides could not reach an agreement on the terms for his next contract. With his new deal in Dallas, Thompson brings valuable shooting and championship experience to a Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals last season and aims to take another step forward.
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