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Mavs' Mark Cuban Excited About Simplified Role For Klay Thompson In Dallas
By Aiden Kauffman,
3 hours ago
The Dallas Mavericks made waves this offseason by signing five-time All-Star Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million deal. Now, team owner Mark Cuban has shed light on how the Mavs plan to utilize the sharpshooting guard in their offense.
Speaking on Jalen Brunson's "Roommates Show" podcast, Cuban suggested that Thompson's role in Dallas will be significantly streamlined compared to his duties with the Golden State Warriors.
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"At Golden State, he had to always be on the move. They had that motion offense where he was always coming off screens and running. We don't do that, or not nearly as much," Cuban said. Instead, the Mavericks owner painted a picture of a more stationary Thompson.
"I'm sure we'll run some of that action for him, but just standing in the corner and standing on the wings, and just catch and shoot from Luka and Ky. Hopefully, his life is going to be a lot easier."
This simplified role could be beneficial for both Thompson and the Mavericks. At 34, Thompson is coming off a season where he shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range — only the second time in his 13-year career he's fallen below 40 percent. His scoring average of 17.5 points per game was his lowest since the 2012-13 season.
By focusing on Thompson's elite catch-and-shoot ability, the Mavericks aim to maximize his effectiveness while potentially preserving his energy for the defensive end. His mere presence on the court should help stretch defenses, creating more space for stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to operate.
Cuban emphasized the value of Thompson's shooting, especially in crucial moments: "If you look back in the Finals, there were times when we couldn't score and we wanted to, and it was more just hitting open 3s than anything else."
While it remains to be seen how Thompson will adapt to this new role, Cuban's comments suggest the Mavericks have a clear vision for integrating the future Hall of Famer into their system. As the Western Conference continues to strengthen, Dallas is betting that a more specialized Thompson can help elevate them in the playoff race.
The Mavericks will be eager to see how this new-look offense performs when the season tips off in October. With Thompson's decorated resume and the playmaking brilliance of Doncic and Irving, expectations in Dallas are undoubtedly on the rise.
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