Mavericks GM on Klay Thompson buyout: ‘I don’t want to get into too much of the nitty-gritty’

The Mavericks have moved on from Klay Thompson. Exactly how they got there? New general manager Mike Schmitz isn’t saying much.

Schmitz addressed Thompson’s buyout during an appearance on 1310 The Ticket, shortly after Dallas announced the agreement Friday.

“I don’t want to get into too much of the nitty-gritty with internal conversations and all that,” Schmitz said, via Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal.

That came after Schmitz was asked whether the Mavericks essentially allowed Thompson to choose his next destination after attempts to find a trade went nowhere.

Thompson, 36, was owed $17.5 million in the final year of his contract. He’s expected to sign a two-year deal worth nearly $13 million with the Heat after clearing waivers.

Schmitz instead emphasized his appreciation for Thompson, calling him “a competitor, a champion, an all-time great shooter” and thanking him for his contributions to Dallas.

The move also clears up the Mavericks’ roster crunch. Dallas had 16 players on standard contracts before the buyout and is now down to the regular-season limit of 15.

Schmitz said the revamped Mavericks are trying to create a “culture of competition” under the new front office and coach Dusty May.

“You want a culture of competition, a healthy competition where guys are fighting for minutes and the level is raised,” Schmitz said.

There should be plenty of it. Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington return, while Dallas added Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser this summer.

Thompson, meanwhile, gets what he wanted: another shot at contention.