Sources: Klay to join Mavs on 3-year, $50M deal
Written by I Dig SportsFree agent guard Klay Thompson has agreed on a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, ending his historic 13-year run with the four-time champion Golden State Warriors, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Thompson's deal was largely inspired over the chance to compete for a fifth title with the Western Conference champion Mavericks.
The deal, negotiated by his agent Greg Lawrence of Wasserman, will require a multiteam sign-and-trade scenario that will send Mavericks guard/forward Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets for two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN.
Lawrence and Thompson met with Mavericks GM Nico Harrison and VP Michael Finley at the Bottle Inn in Hermosa Beach, Calif., to dig into the details of a Thompson-Mavericks partnership.
The Lakers were incredibly intriguing to Thompson, but the financial savings from living in Texas over California and the fact that the Mavericks were within three victories of an NBA championship played immense factors in his decision, sources said.
In the final year and months of Thompson's remarkable 13-year Warriors career, his relationship with the franchise became increasingly strained over contract discussions and his looming free agency. His departure became increasingly likely as the season progressed.
His unhappiness grew as his role with the team fluctuated throughout the season -- punctuated by him being pulled from the closing lineup in early February and moving to a bench role later that month.
Thompson, 34, averaged 17.9 points per game last season, his lowest since the 2012-13 season.
His Warriors tenure ends with his place in franchise and NBA history well-cemented. The trio of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green accounted for 518 wins in the regular season and playoffs, sixth most by a trio all time. Their 98 playoff wins together rank third in NBA history and their four titles are tied with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker for the most by an All-NBA trio over the past 50 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
ESPN's Kendra Andrews contributed to this report.