Klay Thompson made a wise decision choosing Mavericks over Lakers

Once it was clear Klay Thompson's tenure with the Golden State Warriors was coming to an end, there were two teams who instantly jumped out as possible destinations for the five-time All-Star. And even though Thompson's heart may have been with another team, he made the right decision in deciding to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.

On July 1, Thompson agreed to a three-year, $50M deal with the Mavericks. However, some were surprised Thompson picked the Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers, who reportedly offered him a four-year, $80M contract. In addition to the Lakers' offer being more lucrative and for more years, Thompson also grew up a Lakers fan watching his father, Mychal Thompson, win two championships in the 1980s. Mychal also serves as the Lakers' radio color commentator.

Instead of going the emotional route, Klay joined the defending Western Conference champions as they push to get over the hump and win the franchise's second NBA title.

"I'm really disappointed," expressed Mychal about his son picking the Mavericks over the Lakers. "I was hoping — hoping, as you can assess — that he would be a Laker. It was close. It came down to the Lakers and Mavs, but the Mavs won out, but you know me, I was hoping and praying that he'd finish his career with the Lakers."

And while knowing he would disappoint his father was likely difficult, Klay made the smart basketball move at this point in his career.

The best way for a player to show a team they made a mistake by giving up on him (or her) is to play well for another team. The Mavericks provide Klay the perfect opportunity to unleash his best skill and contribute to winning.

Despite winning the Western Conference — a stark contrast to the Lakers' season ending in the first round — the Mavericks were eventually exposed. As a team, Dallas shot 31.6% from three in the NBA Finals. Struggling to hit open shots is largely why the Mavericks lost to the Boston Celtics. And while Klay may not be the same player he once was, he should serve as a major shot (pun intended) in the arm for Dallas from a shooting perspective.

Klay is coming off a season in which he shot 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. While those averages are a bit lower than his career numbers, they are also higher than what the Mavericks posted in their biggest games of the season. Klay is exactly what Dallas needs. There's also a likelihood of open looks thanks to a star like Luka Doncic commanding so much attention.

So even though it may have been tough to say no to the Lakers, especially after a strong pitch from LeBron James himself, the Mavericks provide Klay a path to be a missing piece on a contender.

If an opportunity to be put in a position to succeed and win a fifth NBA title is what Klay is after, the Mavericks were the easy choice.