Everyone is now aware of the fact that Klay Thompson took a pay cut to play for the Dallas Mavericks. The star shooter who played for the Warriors for the entirety of his career thus far decided to move after 13 years. According to reports, there were multiple offers for the 4x NBA Champion but he chose Dallas as his next home.

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Thompson had four-year offers on the table to join other franchises but decided to spurn them in favor of a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks. The Warriors also offered Thompson a two-year contract extension which could have seen him make $48 Million. However, the two sides did not reach an agreement, and a decision was made that he would leave heading to the open market.

The potential destinations were the Lakers and the Mavericks. There were a few unknown teams in the mix as well with one of them being the Orlando Magic. They were interested in the services of the premium shooter and eventually signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million contract. One could assume they would’ve offered Thompson a similar kind of deal.

After making up his mind to join the Dallas Mavericks Klay Thompson agreed to a three-year deal worth $50 Million. This deal will see the superstar earn around $15.8 Million in the 2024-25 season, then $16.6 Million in the following season, and $17.4 Million in the final season of his contract.

Why did Klay Thompson choose the Mavericks?

It is clear that Thompson had better offers and even had a chance to stay at his beloved Franchise the Warriors. So, Why did he pick the Dallas Mavericks? Well, the answer is simple. Klay Thompson wanted another chance to win his 5th NBA Title and was a driving force for picking the Mavericks as his new home.

Playing alongside the likes of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving was certainly a strong appeal for him. As he said during an interview “Playing with Luka and Kyrie, that’s what was attractive, especially watching their championship run. I was really shocked to see the chemistry with their teammates.” Chemistry is what made the Warriors team so special and Klay thinks that this Dallas side also has it.

While he does acknowledge the fact that he is not the same player he once was, he’s confident that he can still add to a title contender side. He said, “I might not be able to run as fast or jump as high, but I can still knock down open shots, and I think I can be that missing piece for them.” This showcased the fact that he is confident in his ability to knock down threes from open areas and with Doncic and Irving by his side they can be a threat to any team in the League.

What are his expectations for the season?

He has said several times that he expects to win the NBA Championship. On the Dallas Mavericks media day, he said, “Yeah, I saw how close they were to winning a championship and the opportunity to do that again I don’t take it for granted and I’m going work my hardest to try and get us back there.” He is clear about his goal to win a championship with Dallas and is ready to put in the work to achieve that.

The Mavericks were within touching distance of the title last time around when they lost in the finals. Also, it’s not a secret that they are a better team after the Offseason. However, they haven’t been at their best in the preseason and are currently 0-3 with their latest loss coming against the Clippers. One of the main reasons is the injuries they have in their camp currently and once the trio of Doncic, Irving, and Thompson hit the court it will be a different scene.

What do you think about the Mavericks being considered top favorites to win the championship? Will Klay Thompson guide them to another NBA finals? Let us know in the comments section.