Mavericks' bombshell sign-and-trade crowned best deal of the summer

Arguably the biggest reason the Dallas Mavericks couldn't prevail to win the 2024 NBA Finals was their struggles with shooting the three. Dallas was determined to upgrade its 3-point shooting this offseason.

To begin to do so, the Mavs traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Pistons to acquire a young 3-point shooter Quentin Grimes. The Mavs also signed improving 3-point shooter Naji Marshall. The Mavs needed to make a free agent splash after Derrick Jones Jr. signed with the Clippers, and they did so by making their biggest move of the summer.

The Mavs completed a sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson, one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history. One month after getting Thompson, the Mavs received high praise for what they gave Thompson in his contract.

Klay Thompson signing ranked best 'value-for-money' deal of the summer

Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World recently published an article titled "The 10 Best Value-For-Money Deals Of The 2024 NBA Free Agency," and had Thompson's three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavs as the best deal. While not many may have thought about it at the time, Thompson's contract with Dallas was the best bargain of free agency.

With how impressive Thompson's NBA resume is, some might have figured Dallas would have to overpay for a player who has shot over 40 percent from three in nine of his 11 seasons played. Thompson also has averaged 20 points per game seven times and has won four NBA Championships.

The fact Dallas will have an average out paying him $16.67 million per year, is very important so the Mavs can sign players in the future and aren't financially burdened. Thompson obviously likes the direction Dallas is going in, and now makes Dallas a hot free agency destination to play with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Thompson is going to bring a winning attitude and pedigree to a Mavs team that is mostly young. Thompson's leadership to Doncic can help him evolve and mature more as a player, but also as a man as we saw with Irving over the last year or so.

While most pay attention to the 3-point shooting, Thompson is ready to lock in defensively too. Some might forget Thompson has made an All-Defensive team in 2019. He may not be the same defender he was, but he is going to have to defend at a high level on this team.

Another thing that makes Thompson's contract a bargain is that he didn't sign with the Lakers after LeBron James called him to play in LA where his father played. The Lakers would've been willing to give Thompson more money, but Thompson loves the direction the Mavs are headed in.

As August has now arrived, the excitement for Mavs fans and players to see Thompson wear a Mavs jersey grows more as October slowly approaches.