13 seasons with the Warriors but not anymore. “Sometimes change can spur greatness,” Klay Thompson stated during his introductory Mavericks presser. It was strange seeing him with a different team. Though the player had a smile on his face, his underlying emotions were difficult to decipher. Anger? Sadness? Relief? What we do know is Warriors owner, Joe Lacob, isn’t happy.

In a new podcast discussion, the owner shared his emotions. My feeling has always been that Klay would never ever, ever be anywhere, but be a Warrior, and I thought I wanted to do that too…And unfortunately, you know, Bob Myers used to say this all the time. He’d say, ‘It never ends well’,” he stated on ‘The Athletic NBA Show’.

He further stated that it was business and, hence, there were limitations. “It’s just the way it is. Things get in the way. Circumstances prevail. This is a very difficult process, you know, his injury the coming back from the injury, which he didn’t play for two and a half of the five years actually of the contract and finally came back and really worked to get there. You know, all I can tell you is; we love him.”

The owner isn’t wrong here. Klay Thompson had to battle a lot of injuries. Here’s a list from 2024 and 2023.

2024:

2023:

Even in 2022, he faced knee and Achilles injuries.

With Thompson’s exit, the Splash Brothers will no longer be together. He will surely miss playing alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. However, Lacob made a promise to Thompson on behalf of his whole team.

“There’s gonna be a statue for this guy without question. Obviously, when they’re all retired and um, I didn’t want to see it happen [Thompson’s exit] but it did,” the Dubs owner stated. In addition to this, the player’s No. 11 jersey was retired by the team. So, does that mean the dynasty is over?

What’s next for Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors?

Thompson is already 34 and under contract for 3 years with the Mavs. Also, when this deal ends, the shooting guard will turn much older. So, the further contracts or extensions that he’ll get won’t last for more than a few years because of the Over-38 rule.

The rule is a provision that limits NBA teams from offering contracts for four or more years to players who are 38 or older. In 1995, the rule was for over-35, which was lowered to 36. Then in 2016, NBPA president Chris Paul proposed to push the limit to 38 years old. In 2016, NBPA president Chris Paul successfully proposed to have the age limit pushed to 38 years old.

However, coming back to Thompson, the Mavs will not let go of a player like him, considering his shooting abilities and 17.9 average last season, which was deemed to be a bad season for him.

Nobody’s going to forget his prime-time from about half a decade ago when he averaged 44% from deep range. If Luka Doncic and Co. can even ignite a mini-version of that Klay Thompson edition, it’ll be safe to assume that the Boston Celtics won’t win consecutive titles and Jalen’s Brunson salary sacrifice for the Knicks to acquire a better roster will be in vain. However, the Bay Area faithful can now rule out the vet’s shock return to the Warriors. Had Klay Thompson been younger, there would’ve been a reunion storyline possible.

On the other hand, the Warriors have moved on. Steve Kerr once divulged that everyone was tradable apart from Steph Curry. Well, they’re standing by those words, as the franchise is looking to rebuild a new team around the aging star. While Draymond Green’s support remains, Steve Kerr will expect younger names like Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga to play an actively bigger role in the coming months.

GSW is also reportedly interested in Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen. However, to acquire a star of his caliber they’ll be required to give up at least one, if not both, of their youngsters along with future draft picks, similar to the Knicks-Nets Mikal Bridges deal.

Everyone developed a bond with Klay Thompson when he was in the Golden State. And having him back at the Chase Center, which will be an ‘away’ game for the veteran, was something Steve Kerr termed ‘weird’.

“When the season starts next year it’s going to be really weird. And I know we’re all going to have that date circled when he comes back to Chase. That will be one of the strangest, most emotional nights of all of our careers, for sure.” 

It’s surely going to take a while before the dust settles over Klay Thompson not being a Warrior anymore. How do you feel about it?

Before you go, do not forget to check out Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, to open up about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud. Keep checking this space for more such updates.