After the Dallas Mavericks were defeated by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals, it became clear that the franchise needed to make a significant acquisition in order to try to win the West once more. To bolster their cause, they signed and traded for Klay Thompson this summer.
Thompson joined the Mavs despite predictions that he would sign with the Lakers, where his father was a player and where he was born.
The Mavs also added Naji Marshall in free agency and Quentin Grimes through a trade. However, what the Mavs might not have known when Thompson teamed up with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic was that the Mavs will be a club that might attract interest from other free agents in the future to create
Klay Thompson’s choice to sign with the Mavericks indicates that they will be a popular free agency destination.
The Dallas Mavericks have never been a top choice for players looking to sign a free agent contract or to be traded to them. Not even a 2006 NBA Finals defeat and a 2011 NBA Finals victory altered the viewpoints of people in the league.
That perspective has altered now that Thompson, one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history with four NBA Championships under his belt, is on board. Thompson’s arrival in Dallas is significant both now and in the future. Thompson claimed that he is already looking forward to joining Dallas, saying, “This gonna be so fun.”
With Irving and now Thompson, Dallas has added two outstanding superstars on its roster for the last two seasons. Dallas’s culture is evolving for the team’s benefit. It’s clear that players want to play alongside Doncic, who will be spoken about as the MVP for many years to come. Additionally, Dallas can attract additional free agents due to the presence of youthful talent such as Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington.
For many years, the Lakers were invariably the most sought-after travel destination in the West. Stars used to want to play for the Lakers and reside in Los Angeles, but things have changed. The Lakers were speculated to sign Irving last summer and Thompson this year. LeBron James called Thompson to convince him to join the Lakers, but Thompson chose Dallas, which says a lot.
Dallas is undoubtedly creating a winning team, cultivating a culture, and positioning itself as a long-term danger in the Western Conference. It will be difficult in the past to entice additional free agents to Dallas, so Thompson’s addition is significant.
Keep checking back for all the latest during the offseason on Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks.