"A place that gives you the opportunity to win and not be taken advantage of" - Why Dallas seems to be the frontrunner for Klay Thompson

Barring a massive change of heart, Klay Thompson will soon be an ex-Golden State Warrior. It was an excellent run for the dynasty that won four championships, and he will always be remembered as one-half of the greatest-shooting backcourt of all time.

The five-time All-Star has been linked to a few suitors, and the Dallas Mavericks are reportedly the frontrunners to land him. According to a league source, the Mavs' handling of Kyrie Irving, family atmosphere, and ability to contend for a title are alluring for Thompson.

The Mavs took care of Kyrie

There came a point when Irving was projected to be out of the league in no time. His off-court problems had become more prominent than his on-court production, even if still elite, with the Brooklyn Nets, and many pundits didn't think he could bring his issues under control.

As it turned out, all Kyrie needed was an environment that allowed him to be himself. He also surprised people by not making things hard for superstar Luka Doncic, showing no problem taking a backseat to the Slovenian. The eight-time All-Star rewarded the franchise with averages of 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in the regular season and proved to be a formidable sidekick to "Luka Magic" during the playoffs.

Sadly, Dallas met a deeper Boston Celtics squad in the Finals and ran out of gas. It was clear that the team needed more juice on the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and Thompson could be one of its missing pieces to become a champion again finally.

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The Mavs with the Splash Brother

While Klay's situation in Golden State is vastly different from Irving's, it's understandable if he indeed feels slighted by the organization over the past couple of years.

Everyone on the Warriors has gone on record to say that the goal is to have Thompson back.

But rumor has it that the front office is unwilling to meet his contract desires, which would probably have him feeling disrespected after Golden State paid Jordan Poole in 2022 and Draymond Green last year. If the Mavs (or other teams) have shown that enthusiasm, it would be unsurprising to hear about Thompson wanting a fresh start elsewhere.

It remains to be seen if Klay joins Dallas, but the Mavs would likely enter next season better than they were after the 2023-24 ended. He may be a step slower than he was during his prime, but Thompson can still be a solid 3-and-D guy who could complement Doncic and Irving well. He struggled with the Warriors during key contests, but perhaps not being taken advantage of by his new employer could inspire him to turn back the time.

Related: Adrian Wojnarowski says the Lakers are in play for Klay Thompson: "I'm told LeBron James called Klay Thompson right when free agency opened"