After considering his options, Klay Thompson decided to sign a shorter contract with the Dallas Mavericks rather than play for his father Mychal Thompson’s Los Angeles Lakers, who had two titles.
Although some thought that was an odd choice, Thompson feels that the Mavs have a better chance of winning an NBA Championship than the Lakers have because the Mavs advanced to the NBA Finals last season while the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. There is now more evidence to support his decision to sign with the Mavericks.
According to Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, Klay Thompson was probably turned off by the Lakers because they wouldn’t promise him a starting position. Although it’s unclear if the Mavs promised him a starting position, it appears likely that he will play small forward next to Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
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The Lakers offered Thompson $4 years and $80 million, but he accepted a 3-year, $50 million contract. That’s a lot of money to pass down in exchange for a better opportunity to get off the ground, but he probably wants to show the Warriors that he can still be a successful member of a championship team, since it appears they don’t believe he can. Thompson left the only NBA team he had ever known because he felt sufficiently insulted throughout the talks.
Despite not being the same defender he once was due to an Achilles tendon and ACL tear a few years back, Thompson ought to be a little more successful as a small forward. However, with him setting up the floor for Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks should have a potent attack.