The biggest offseason move for the reigning Western Conference champions was bringing in Klay Thompson on a three-year, $50 million deal. The former Golden State Warrior is expected to slot in nicely next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to form one of the more lethal backcourts in the NBA.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban knows what Thompson will bring to the team as a shooter and experienced leader in the locker room. It is always disappointing when a player who has been with one franchise departs for a new team, but Cuban thinks it is for the best.
"I think Klay was ready for a move, you know, all of the grief he got last year, particularly the way it ended, so the timing was right," said Cuban on the Club Shay Shay podcast. "Kudos to Klay for being willing to make the move, and kudos to Nico (Harrison), Jason Kidd, and Kyrie Irving for making it happen."
Thompson spent thirteen seasons with Golden State, winning four NBA titles. He is one of the greatest players in franchise history, but after back-to-back career-altering injuries, he was no longer capable of being the second-best player on a championship team.
Cuban talked about how difficult it can be when a star player leaves an organization with which he is so familiar. However, in Thompson's case, Cuban sees it as a positive for the Mavericks.
"The number two guy, if it is not going the way you want, then yeah, the door is open, but it takes somebody who is special, somebody who has got the confidence in themselves, somebody who has got the ambition, and somebody who really has got something to prove, and Klay has got a lot to prove which is great cause those are the kinda guys you want on your squad because they are gonna work harder than ever to prove people wrong," said Cuban.
It could end up being a match made in heaven. With Doncic and Irving at the helm, Thompson is not going to be asked to initiate much of the offense. He will get to take a step back and play a role he was handcrafted for. Thompson will feast when Doncic penetrates towards the basket and kicks the ball out to one of the best shooters of all time.
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