Former Dallas Mavericks coach praises team for Klay Thompson move
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The perfect offseason.
This a statement some fans have used to describe the Dallas Mavericks' offseason so far. The team has checked off a majority of their to-do list.
Dallas started the offseason by trading Tim Hardaway Jr. for young guard Quentin Grimes. This was a win for the Mavs, as they had been trying to shed Hardaway Jr.'s contract. On the other hand, Grimes is a savvy 3-and-D guard who has converted 37.1 percent of his career 3-pointers.
The team then signed Naji Marshall at the start of free agency. It was a move the Mavs felt they needed to make, as pivoted away from re-signing Derrick Jones Jr. as he later signed with the LA Clippers.
Avery Johnson praises Mavericks for the Klay Thompson move
However, the biggest acquisition came Monday afternoon when 4-time NBA champion Klay Thompson stunned the NBA and signed with the Mavericks. The Mavs completed a sign-and-trade with the Golden Warriors, as Josh Green was sent to the Charlotte Hornets.
This was a move the team desperately needed, as they were looking to add an extra shooter. Thompson is the perfect man for the job. Last season, he averaged 17.9 points per game, shooting 38.7 percent from the 3-point line. The year prior he converted 41.2 percent of his long-range attempts.
Thompson's skills and experience stand out to Coach Avery Johnson. The Mavs former coach discussed the recent arrival of the former Splash brother.
Klay Thompson joins the Dallas Mavericks! A wonderful acquisition for the Mavericks—4x NBA champion, 5x NBA All-Star. He made the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2019 and brings a wealth of experience to help his teammates and the coaching staff. This is a win for the Dallas Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/H7xoaE77Fi
— Avery Johnson (@CoachAvery6) July 1, 2024
"Just brings a wealth of experience to not only his teammates, but also the coaching staff. He's been there, he's seen it all. He helps the Mavericks from a playbook standpoint because he loves to come off screens, so that's something else his opponents will have to scout for."
- Avery Johnson
Johnson also described the signing as a "Win" for the Dallas Mavericks. He stated how Thompson can widen the floor for Dallas's offense.
Honestly, Johnson is right. In the team's final elimination game against the Boston Celtics, the Mavs struggled to get the offense going. The team went 11-37 from behind the 3-point line and failed to find a third scorer who could take over the game. Luka Doncic finished with 28 points, but his counterparts struggled to match his high scoring.
The issue was the team couldn't convert any of their long-range attempts. Players like P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber missed all of their 3-point attempts. It also didn't help when Kyrie Irving and Luka combined to go 5-18 shooting from downtown.
This is where Thompson converts into play. One big advantage is his ability to knock down open attempts. He is a great catch-and-shoot player, who can get hot.
Dallas struggled shooting the ball last season, as they ranked just outside the top 10 in their ability to convert open 3-pointers.
Dallas Mavericks had the second most open 3PT attempts last season, only trailed Boston Celtics.
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) July 2, 2024
Mavs ranked 17th in 3PT% in those open 3PT shots (34.7%), 11th after trade deadline (35.5%).
Klay Thompson open 3PT% last season: 39.2%
Tim Hardaway Jr open 3PT% last season: 31.7%
Thompson's shooting is just one of the many things he can bring. Some highlights of his career include being selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and making the All-Star Game five times.
So, in simple terms, the Mavs got better. They added a champion who can play on both ends of the court. Not to mention, Dallas already has one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Adding Klay Thompson to the team makes life a lot easier.
Stay tuned, for the latest on the Dallas Mavericks and their acquisition of Klay Thompson.
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