Dallas Mavericks Now Favored to Acquire Future Hall of Famer in Sign-and-Trade
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made a strategic move last week by trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and his hefty contract to the Detroit Pistons. This maneuver provided the defending Western Conference champions with greater financial flexibility as NBA free agency approaches.
With more room to maneuver, the Mavericks are seeking additional support for their star players, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The answer might be Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion from the Golden State Warriors.
Thompson, whose 13-year tenure with the Warriors appears to be ending, is now free to explore opportunities with other teams. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Thompson plans to discuss potential deals with the Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers as free agency begins.
Among these teams, only the 76ers can currently offer Thompson the full mid-level exception. However, if Paul George leaves the Clippers for the 76ers, Los Angeles could then offer Thompson the same exception.
Golden State is open to facilitating a sign-and-trade to help Thompson secure the best possible contract. Potential trade pieces for the Mavericks include big man Maxi Kleber and guard Josh Green, whose combined salaries total $23.6 million for the next season. The Warriors would likely also seek some draft picks as part of the deal.
For the Mavericks, acquiring Thompson would be highly appealing, especially after their struggles with long-range shooting in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Despite his age and injury history, Thompson remains a reliable catch-and-shoot perimeter player.
Leave a Reply