According to NBA reporters Ramona Shelburne and Kendra Andrews of ESPN, Klay Thompson didn’t join the Los Angeles Lakers because it felt too much like playing for the Golden State Warriors.
Thompson had conversations with LeBron James about playing for the Lakers. His dad, Mychal Thompson, told him that he wanted him to come home.
However, Klay ended up signing with the Dallas Mavericks.
“That left the Lakers,” Shelburne and Andrews wrote. “His father’s team. His idol’s team. LeBron’s team. The team ultimately was willing to offer Thompson more years and more money than he accepted from Dallas. Sources said James was willing to take less and the Lakers were trying to make trades that would’ve cleared four years and nearly $80 million for Thompson. James had several deep conversations with Thompson about the idea of playing together, sources said.
“But something about playing for the Lakers apparently felt too much like playing for the Warriors. As one source close to him put it, ‘Would this be trading one fishbowl for another?’ All Thompson had talked about in the two weeks since he had decided and accepted that his time with the Warriors was over was wanting ‘new experiences’ and a ‘fresh start.’ Dallas seemed like a better place to get that.”
Klay has agreed on a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks. The deal will require a multi-team sign-and-trade scenario that sends Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets for two future second-round picks.
The Lakers were extremely intriguing to Klay, but the financial savings from living in Texas over California and the fact that the Mavericks came within three victories of an NBA championship were big factors in Klay’s decision, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Klay averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Warriors while shooting 43.2% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 92.7% from the free-throw line.
The Warriors drafted Klay with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Klay made five All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and one All-Defensive team with the Warriors. He helped the franchise win four championships.
Klay has career averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks. He turns 35 next season.
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After a Hall-of-Fame 13-year career with the Golden State Warriors that included four championships, five All-Star selections, and six Finals appearances, Klay Thompson has signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. This move marks the end of his storied tenure with the Warriors, closing a chapter filled with triumphs and challenges. Getting more news and blogs click on link… https://www.basketballall.com/klay-thompson-joins-mavericks-after-requesting-curry-not-to-intervene-with-warriors/