(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Despite winning a somewhat modest 50 games to finish fifth in the Western Conference this past season, the Dallas Mavericks managed to unexpectedly reach the 2024 NBA Finals.
There, they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games and were exposed as a squad that lacked offensive firepower other than Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
This offseason, the Mavericks went out to rectify that problem by acquiring Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal.
With about three months still to go before the start of training camp, the 34-year-old recently was seen working on his shot for the first time since joining the Mavs, per Yahoo Sports.
Klay putting up shots for the first time as a Maverick
(via @dallasmavs)
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 9, 2024
Thompson, a five-time All-Star and likely Hall of Famer, won four NBA championships with the Warriors, but with that dynasty almost surely over, he decided to move on and give himself a shot at another ring.
He is diminished compared to what he was several years ago due to ACL and Achilles injuries suffered in 2019 and 2020, respectively, but he is still a dangerous 3-point threat.
This past season, he averaged 17.9 points per game and shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range for Golden State.
If he still has his shooting eye, he will provide an excellent outlet for Doncic and Irving while helping to space the floor and prevent opponents from loading up in the paint.
The hope is that Thompson’s arrival, as well as a full season with P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, who were acquired in trades during the 2023-24 season, will result in a much stronger Mavs team.
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