THREE REASONS WHY KLAY THOMPSON IS A GREAT ADDITION FOR THE MAVERICKS
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
Thompson has now ended a 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors, winning four championships with the franchise. Now, he will be tasked with helping the Mavericks return to the NBA Finals and challenge for a championship.
Dallas' acquisition of Thompson is a major boost to its chances of competing at the highest level. Here are three reasons why the veteran sharpshooter will thrive with the Mavericks.
1. He will be their primary shooter
A staple of Dallas' offense last season was forcing defenses to collapse when Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving drove the ball and hit the open shooter in the corner.
Thompson is one of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the NBA. His off-ball movement is elite. He will consistently find space to get his shot off and provide a reliable outlet for Dallas' ball-handlers as they lean into their spray offense next season.
You will likely see Thompson curling off screens during half-court actions, too. Doncic and Irving have incredible shooting gravity. Thompson's presence will put defenses into a tough spot, as they can't help off him but won't want to guard Doncic and Irving straight up.
2. He adds defensive versatility
Thompson isn't the defender he was in his prime. Nevertheless, he can still guard multiple positions and hang with bigger, stronger opponents.
The Mavericks must keep Thompson away from quick and shifty guards, though, as his injury history has challenged him regarding lateral quickness.
Nevertheless, Thompson will provide defensive versatility on the wing and will allow head coach Jason Kidd to tinker with his overall strategy.
Cross-matching is becoming a common defensive strategy in the NBA, and Thompson could be the ideal candidate to start positions guarding a center or hulking forward.
3. He brings championship experience
Thompson is a four-time champion. He knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage. He will join Irving as a leading voice within the locker room and could help his new teammates keep a level head if they make it back to the NBA Finals in the coming years.
The Mavericks haven't had a ton of leadership in recent years. Thompson's professional approach and veteran status within the NBA will allow him to assume a big role in the locker room.
It will likely be an area where he makes one of his most considerable impacts and will be critical to the Mavericks' continued pursuit of success.
Want more articles like this? Follow Yardbarker on MSN to see more of our exclusive NBA content.
More must-reads:
- Mavericks reportedly add four-time champion Klay Thompson
- Clippers star reportedly staying on two-year extension
- The '2014-15 Golden State Warriors' quiz
Trending slideshow: Forgotten NBA stars from the merger to the Lottery era (Provided by Yardbarker)