Max Christie can prove Klay Thompson's premature Mavericks exit wasn't for nothing

Klay Thompson's time with the Dallas Mavericks went far from how he expected. He signed with the team in the summer of 2024 to play alongside Luka Doncic and contend for the NBA Finals after the Mavs lost to the Boston Celtics in the championship months before. Two seasons later, Doncic was off the team, Anthony Davis (whom he purposely avoided in the summer of 2024) replaced him, and the Mavs missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since Luka's rookie year.

Klay Thompson's two-year Dallas stint was a whirlwind

Thompson's journey in Dallas ended prematurely this summer, as Dallas bought him out and he signed with the Miami Heat. He was supposed to help the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals and be their missing piece. Instead, he played for a team that won 26 games last season.

Thompson never got to help Dallas make a deep playoff run, and with his time with the team ending so early, Max Christie has the chance to replace his production and prove that moving on from Thompson was the right decision.

Yes, losing Thompson for nothing doesn't look great on the surface. He's one of the greatest shooters of all time, averaged 12.9 points per game in two seasons with the Mavs, and was on an expiring contract entering the 2026-27 season. All of this together made it seem like a contender would trade for him, but with Dallas previously having 16 players on standard contracts before buying out Thompson, no one traded for him.

Rival teams knew the Mavericks needed to part with someone before the season started to get to 15 standard contracts, leaving them without much leverage. These factors later led to a buyout after trying to trade him, and Christie has the chance to prove this wasn't for nothing.

Max Christie can help fill the hole that Thompson left behind

Christie replaced Thompson in the starting lineup last season and averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game while shooting 40.4 percent from three — the highest mark since his rookie year. His shooting off the catch was electric, and he also has a solid mid-range jumper off the dribble.

Christie is also an underrated finisher inside when attacking closeouts and in transition due to his length, patience, and craftiness. He isn't a three-level scorer yet, but he has shown flashes that he is more than a 3-point shooter.

With Dallas prioritizing building around Cooper Flagg and getting younger, moving on from Thompson was a logical move. He would've been the oldest player on the team by multiple years, and he no longer lined up with the Mavericks' timeline. Thompson heading to Miami gives him a chance to contend, and his departure opens up more minutes and opportunity for Christie.

The Mavericks need Christie to build on last season

He seems like the team's most likely starting shooting guard, and with Thompson gone, it's going to be crucial that his shooting remains elite. Dallas needs as much shooting as they can get after being one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season, and Christie will play a big part in whether they can turn things around.

He shot 43.8 percent from three on wide-open attempts (closest defender is over six feet away), 2.3 percent better than Thompson. This is a great foundation for the young shooting guard to build upon, and while Mavs fans will miss Thompson, Christie can help prove that moving could work out for both sides.

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