NBA Notes: Mavs, Klay Thompson, Sixers, Paul George, Knicks

Mavericks

Not surprisingly, Klay Thompson is considered one of the top faces in new places after landing with the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks this offseason.

“It will be odd to see Thompson in a new uniform after 13 seasons in Golden State. But he’ll settle in Dallas with a pair of the league’s best ball handlers in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who should be able to set him up with countless looks from deep,” wrote Chris Herring of ESPN of the Mavericks. “It’s no secret that, after devastating injuries, the 34-year-old isn’t the defender he once was and his shooting metrics have come down in the past few years. But, even with that being the case, his poorest shooting years of nearly 39% from 3 are still well above average, and enough to add to one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.”

76ers

You can also count Paul George among the group of the best faces in new places — though there are repeated questions about his fit and whether he can put the Sixers over the top. Fair or not.

“As the first All-Star to change teams in free agency since 2019, all eyes will be on how George fits with past MVP Joel Embiid and fellow All-Star Tyrese Maxey on a Sixers team expected to contend in the East,” wrote Kevin Pelton of ESPN. “Given George’s malleability as a 40% 3-point shooter who can defend multiple positions during his five seasons with the Clippers, incorporating him should be relatively easy for Nick Nurse.

“George figures to slide into a heavier on-ball role when Embiid and Maxey are off the court, backstopping Philadelphia second units that are longer on role players than shot creation.”

But again, yes, there are some doubters out there.

“Perhaps the biggest question with George, then, is at what point does his age affect his production?” Pelton wrote. “George turned 34 in May, and the Clippers were evidently concerned enough about his long-term outlook to be unwilling to match the Sixers’ four-year, max offer.”

• By the way, isn’t it interesting that the Sixers lost James Harden to the Clippers at the start of last season, and now George is in Philadelphia? It’s almost like the players were just traded for one another. But hey, that’s just life in the modern, freewheeling NBA.

Knicks

When it comes to faces in new places, perhaps no one is expected to make as big of an impact as Knicks forward Mikal Bridges, acquired in a trade with the Nets.

“Bridges might not be the biggest name on this list — he’s yet to make an All-Star team — but he has the potential to impact the 2025 playoffs as much as anyone,” Pelton wrote. “By making a rare trade with their crosstown rival Nets to get Bridges, the Knicks doubled down on their strengths in terms of defensive versatility, shooting and former Villanova players.”

Bridges could turn out to be the best fit of any of the “name” players to have made an offseason change.

“In Bridges and OG Anunoby, New York now boasts two of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players, both of whom have more ability to create their own offense than most players in that mold,” Pelton wrote. “That could prove especially important with Bridges, who was stretched as Brooklyn’s go-to guy last season — his .560 true shooting percentage was Bridges’ lowest since his rookie campaign — but is an ideal complement for Jalen Brunson.”