Klay Thompson 's departure from the only team he's played for in his illustrious 13-year career, the Golden State Warriors, came as a total shock. However, the rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers ' immediate pursuit of the sharpshooter's services came as no surprise.
Thompson seemed like the perfect missing piece for the Lakers, who were looking to form a title-contending team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But despite the lure of playing for one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, one that also employed his father, Mychal, Klay ultimately chose to sign with the reigning Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks.
An aggressive pursuit
Klay, a five-time All-Star and one-half of arguably the greatest backcourt in league history, had reportedly grown weary in Golden State. Despite winning four championships and establishing a reputation as one of the deadliest shooters in the NBA, Thompson—who tore his ACL and Achilles in 2019 and 2020—saw his game steadily decline to the point where he was demoted to the bench last season.
With that hanging over his head and the Warriors' front office hesitant to give him the deal he yearned for, Thompson saw the opportunity to entertain offers from other squads. One of those teams was the Lakers, a team searching for veterans who could help the team climb back to the top of the mountain.
"The King" was adamant about pursuing Klay, and the two had several meaningful conversations about teaming up in L.A. These conversations, which reportedly revolved around their shared goal of winning a championship, made the potential partnership even more enticing. The amount of defense LeBron draws would have opened up a ton of opportunities for Thompson on the offensive end, a prospect that excited both players.
Moreover, the 20-time All-Star expressed a willingness to take a pay cut to accommodate Klay's salary demand.
"The team ultimately was willing to offer Thompson more years and more money than he accepted from Dallas. Sources said James was willing to take less, and the Lakers were trying to make trades that would've cleared four years and nearly $80 million for Thompson," Ramona Shelbourne reported for ESPN.
Related: "The seriousness of it made it less fun" - Julius Erving explains why the ABA is more fun than the NBA
Thompson was keen on getting a fresh start
Ultimately, Klay's desire for a fresh start away from California became the deciding factor. As a California native, Thompson had spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors and was ready for a change of scenery. Moving to the Lakers would have felt the same, as he would have been under the same microscope that scrutinized him his entire tenure with the Dubs. And with LeBron as a teammate, the media frenzy would be continuous.
"Something about playing for the Lakers apparently felt too much like playing for the Warriors. As one source close to him put it, 'Would this be trading one fishbowl for another?'" Shelbourne continued. "All Thompson had talked about in the two weeks since he had decided and accepted that his time with the Warriors was over was wanting 'new experiences' and a 'fresh start.' Dallas seemed like a better place to get that."
Klay's move to Dallas left the Dubs and the Lakers in disbelief. The Warriors had just lost one of their key players, who had been with them since the start of their dynasty. The Purple and Gold, on the other hand, were left disappointed, having missed out on a chance to add another star player to their already-stacked squad.
Related: "Klay has been equally as exhausting behind the scenes" – Warriors insider discusses how Thompson has been over the last few seasons
Local Los Angeles, CA
Most Popular
Comments / 0