Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson
Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They were fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, and he seemed like the perfect fit on a roster that needed more shooting. The Mavericks shot 31.6 percent from the field and 68.1 percent from the free-throw line in that five-game NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics, and Thompson was poised to be the remedy they needed to turn the corner and solidify themselves as perennial contenders out West.
Miami gives Klay Thompson what Dallas couldn't
Thompson made it clear that his main goal was winning his fifth championship in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic. Instead, he's on the Miami Heat now after just two seasons with the Mavericks. Dallas bought out Thompson last Friday, and he signed with the Heat yesterday.
He now has a much better chance of being on a playoff team, and his time in Miami will likely look significantly different than his two seasons in Dallas. Thompson expected the Mavs to be a powerhouse in the West after signing with them, but they proceeded to win just 65 games in two seasons. This includes 26 wins last season — their second-worst season of the 21st century.
Thompson's wish to play for a playoff team was made much more likely the second that he signed with the Heat, and unfortunately for the Mavericks, they were not in a position to help him win another championship next season. They're building for the future while Miami is trying to win as soon as possible.
Why Thompson and the Heat can succeed next season
Thompson will join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo on the Heat, and his shooting will be a hot commodity considering how many shooters they had to give up to acquire Giannis. He is going to have an important role, and Miami could be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference if things go according to plan.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant players of this era, and a frontcourt pairing of him alongside Adebayo is going to be terrifying for opposing teams. Add in Thompson, Davion Mitchell, Bobby Portis, and Andrew Wiggins, and Miami has a solid core to make some noise in the East. This doesn't even include the other free agents that the team will inevitably sign before the season begins.
This is exactly what he wanted
This change of scenery is exactly what Thompson wanted, and his future with the Mavs was looking murky for some time. He didn't confirm or deny whether he believed he would be on the team to begin this season during his exit interview last season, and there were rumors about him wanting to play for a contender dating back to last season's trade deadline.
His long-standing wish of wanting to compete for championships at the end of his career now has a chance of coming true, and his time since leaving the Golden State Warriors could take a complete 180. His Mavericks journey was far from what he expected, but he now gets to step into a win-now environment with Antetokounmpo and the Heat.
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