On June 29, Beijing time, there are still a few days before the opening of the NBA free market, and the trading market is also bustling. Bridges was traded to the Knicks, and the team's outside offense and defense have increased dramatically; The Mavericks also got rid of the cumbersome players and traded Hardaway Jr. to the Pistons, freeing up salary space to re-sign Jones Jr. However, there are still players whose new contracts have not been finalized:
Klay of the Warriors has become a free agent, and several teams are reluctant to offer him a long-term contract; The Clippers' request for George's long-term salary cap is also not met, and the two sides are still in the game stage.
So, who will Clay's next home be? In addition to the Magic, the 76ers, and the Nuggets, there are naturally Mavericks who aspire to win the championship. According to Marc Stein of The Athletic, according to sources, the Mavericks intend to explore the possibility of signing Klay Thompson after he becomes a free agent.
This means that the Mavericks are interested in Klay if he becomes a free agent, rather than pursuing him through a sign-and-trade approach.
In the 23-24 season, Klay played 77 regular season games for the Warriors, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 38.7% from three-point range and receiving a salary of $43.22 million. Under the Warriors' offensive and defensive system, Klay has become a burden on the defensive end after losing his athleticism, and his efficiency on the offensive end is also not as good as before, which is the reason why the Warriors management did not offer Klay a super cap salary. But Klay is a high-minded player who naturally doesn't want to play on the bench on the team, so he chooses to enter the free market to find a new contract.
The Mavericks' interest in Klay makes logical sense, as Doncic and Irving play differently than the Warriors' pass-and-cut system, with the duo possessing top-notch offensive ability and helping teammates get open three-point shots after breakaways. Last season's Mavericks were swept out of the Finals by the Celtics 4-1, largely because the role players couldn't shoot those three-pointers.
Imagine that Klay will have the opportunity to get more catch-and-shoot three-point shots in such a system, and he can give full play to his talent in shooting. So, is Clay himself interested in joining the Mavericks? We found on Klay's social media that he has followed Mavericks players like Doncic, Irving, and Gafford and wonders if that would imply anything. However, once the Mavericks complete a contract extension with Jones Jr., there is not much salary space left for Klay, and the role players on the roster may have to be traded.