Klay Thompson is officially a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks on Monday, but the Mavs had to work out a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors to make the deal work.
Late Monday night, early Tuesday morning, Dallas and Golden State finalized the deal, which included the Charlotte Hornets. Here are the details of the trade per NBA.com:
- Dallas gets Klay Thompson from Golden State
- Golden State gets two second-round picks (2025 and 2031)
- Charlotte receives Josh Green from Dallas
NBA Trade Grades: Klay Thompson Reportedly Passes Up More Money to Sign With Mavericks; How Did Each of the 3 Teams Involved In The Sign-and-Trade Make Out?
While it is a little surprising that Thompson chose Dallas over other suitors, the Mavericks are theoretically the best fit for the 34-year-old wing. Thompson should get many open 3-point looks off of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic’s penetration and post-ups. Thompson reportedly turned down more money from the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Mavericks.
The Lakers, led by LeBron James, were in hot pursuit of Thompson, whose father, Mychal Thompson, has ties to the franchise. Mychal Thompson played for the Lakers from 1987 to 1991 and is part of the radio broadcast team.
“I was told the Lakers made a pretty compelling offer,” Haynes said. “It was around a three-, four-year mark somewhere along the lines of 20 million per (year). And they didn’t get their guy.
I was told that it would have likely involved D’Angelo Russell being a part of a deal to get Klay. And from what I was told, the Warriors weren’t interested in bringing back D’Angelo Russell.”
Thompson, like the Warriors as a team, is coming off a disappointing season. The 11-year vet was much better in the second half of the season, averaging 17.5 points and 3.4 3-pointers while shooting 43.2/38.7/92.7%.
Meanwhile, 2023-24 was expected to be a breakout season for Green. Green, the Mavericks’ first-round selection in 2020, put up similar numbers to 2022-23, which was a career season for the 23-year-old wing. However, consistency was an issue for the Australian, who scored in double figures in just 22 of his 57 appearances and topped the 20-point mark on three occasions.
Green will make $12.6 million in 2023-24 in the first year of a three-year, $41.0 million extension he signed with the Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks Trade Grade: C
Dallas is coming off its best season since surprisingly winning the NBA title in 2011. The Mavericks finished fifth in the Western Conference but made a playoff run behind Doncic and Irving. However, after trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to Detroit, the Mavericks had a hole on the wing to fill.
Here is the thing: While Thompson is a better shooter and scorer than Hardaway Jr., he doesn’t do much else and has struggled on the defensive end over the past few seasons. So, there is no telling what he will provide the Mavs on that end. Doncic and Irving are not good individual defenders, though Thompson is still better than those two.
Additionally, the Mavericks added some salary, though minimal ($3 million a year), and they got older. The Mavs were the seventh oldest team in 2023-24.
Dallas has 14 players on standard contracts with salaries totaling around $172 million, which would put the Mavs above the tax threshold. It will be interesting to see if they carry 15 players on opening night.
Golden State Warriors Trade Grade: B
The Warriors said that they wanted to keep their core together, including Thompson. However, Warriors owner Jacob Lacob also wanted the team to be below the tax threshold over the next few years.
In the end, the Warriors saved money. They presumably signed Thompson’s replacement, De’Anthony Melton, for $12.8 million for one season. So, the Warriors got younger, and more important than saving money this season, they only have $121 million committed for 2024-25.
The Warriors also got the bonus of adding assets. The Dubs get a 2025 second-round selection, with that pick expected to be in the late 40s or 50s as it is the less favorable of Denver and Philadelphia.
They also get Dallas’ 2031 second-round choice.
Golden State has 12 players under contract and is $16.2 million beneath the first apron.
Charlotte Hornets Trade Grade: A
Charlotte picked up a young asset, Green, who is under team control for three years. Since the Hornets are well under the cap, they didn’t have to give up anything in return.
Charlotte still has decisions to make, but Green projects to have a major role off the bench for the Hornets. Miles Bridges is still on the market, and the Hornets have 13 players on standard deals, including unsigned first-round pick Tidjane Salaun.
